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Water on Mars?
On July 4, 1997, the Mars Pathfinder touched down on the rocky, wind-blown surface of Mars. The surface is similar to a terrestrial desert; however, there are signs
that water was once abundant on this planet. Gullies are evident and many of the rocks are rounded as if they were eroded by water and deposited by streams or floods. These features are
evidence of water activity. Today Mars is bone-dry and liquid water is not stable on the surface. But solid water and water vapor are found on Mars. The polar cap is composed mainly of
solid water or ice. Wispy clouds of ice hover over the Kasai Vallis region of Mars. Ground frost or snow were found at the Viking 2 landing site on Utopia Planitia. |
| Atmospheric pressure is defined as the force per unit area exerted by the mass of air on the surface. The Martian atmosphere
is approximately 7% of the atmospheric pressure found on Earth. The atmospheric pressure on the Martian surface is 6.1 mbar and the average low temperature on the surface is -60ºC. It
would be very unlikely that liquid water could exit on the surface of Mars at these conditions. As pressure drops, the boiling point of a liquid drops, water would vaporize instantly on
Mars. |
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 <![CDATA[<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=gif::::/sites/dl/free/0078617987/179001/POWproblem_1.gif','popWin', 'width=NaN,height=NaN,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (0.0K)</a>]]> | Determine
the atmospheric pressure on Mars in atmospheres using the surface
weather report. (1 atmosphere = 1,013 mbars) |
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Determine the phase water is in on the surface of Mars. The
triple point of water is located at a temperature of 0.0098°C
and a pressure of 0.006026 atm. Explain your answer. |
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What phase change occurs on the planet Mars when ice has an
atmospheric pressure of 6.0 mbar and temperature of -18°C ?
Explain your answer. |
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What conditions would be necessary to find liquid water on the
surface of Mars? |
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Determine the boiling point of liquid water, if the atmospheric
pressure on Mars was increased to 0.01 atm. |
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It is theorized that liquid water is found beneath the surface
of Mars. Explain why this would be possible. |
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Useful Web Sites:
Mars Global Surveyor
NASA announces the discovery of water on Mars
Making a Splash on Mars
Life Found Near Sub-Antarctic Lake,
Fueling ET Hopes
Martian Atmosphere
Water on Mars
Why You Can't Have a Snowball
Fight on Mars |
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