Question

The table below lists several properties of the planets in the Solar System.

Planet Properties

Planet Distance from Earth
at Closest
Point in Orbit (km) Orbital Period
(Earth years) Rotation Period
(Earth days) Average
Surface Temperature
(°C)
Mercury 77 million 0.24 58.65 77
Venus 38 million 0.62 243 457
Earth 0 1 1 14
Mars 54.6 million 1.88 1.03 -63
Jupiter 629 million 11.86 0.41 -149
Saturn 1,200 million 29.46 0.44 -176
Uranus 2,600 million 84.01 0.72 -215
Neptune 4,300 million 164.8 0.72 -214

A scientist is designing a space probe that will be sent to the planet Venus. The probe will gather information about the planet's surface and send this information back to Earth. Which of the following is a criterion that must be met in order for the scientist's design to be successful?
A.
The probe must be able to withstand temperatures of at least 457°C.
B.
The probe must be able to travel at a speed of at least 38 million km per hour.
C.
The probe must be able to carry enough fuel to travel at least 243 million km.
D.
The probe must be able to break through thick sheets of frozen water.

Answer 1

A.

The probe must survive Venus's surface conditions. The table shows Venus's average surface temperature is 457°C, so a surface probe must be designed to withstand at least that temperature. The other choices misinterpret the table (38 million km is a distance, not a required speed; 243 is the rotation period in days, not a distance; Venus does not have sheets of frozen water).