Planet Surface Temperature Order
The surface temperature of planets generally increases with proximity to the Sun. However, atmospheric composition plays a crucial role, as seen with Venus's extreme heat due to a runaway greenhouse effect. Mercury, despite being closer to the Sun than Venus, has lower average temperatures due to its lack of atmosphere.
Planet Temperatures
| Planet | Approximate Average Surface Temperature |
| Neptune | $ \approx -214^{\circ} \text{C} $ |
| Earth | $ \approx 15^{\circ} \text{C} $ |
| Mercury | $ \approx 167^{\circ} \text{C} $ (Average) |
| Venus | $ \approx 462^{\circ} \text{C} $ |
Correct Temperature Sequence
Based on the approximate average surface temperatures, the planets listed in order of increasing temperature are:
- Neptune ($ \approx -214^{\circ} \text{C} $)
- Earth ($ \approx 15^{\circ} \text{C} $)
- Mercury ($ \approx 167^{\circ} \text{C} $)
- Venus ($ \approx 462^{\circ} \text{C} $)
Therefore, the correct sequence is Neptune, Earth, Mercury, Venus.
Important Questions from Planetary Bodies
- Atmosphere of planet Mars is almost entirely made up of $\text{CO}_2$. But the surface temperature of Mars is less than that of the Earth because:
- Consider two planets A and B with radii $2r$ and $r$, respectively. Let their distances from the Sun be $d$ and $2d$, respectively. The solar constants for A ($F_{\text{SA}}$) and B ($F_{\text{SB}}$) are related by
A planet of radius $r$ has a core of radius $r_c$ and a mantle. It has no crust. Its mean density is $\rho$ and the density of its core is $\rho_c$. What is the density of the mantle?
Given the following information, calculate the dry adiabatic lapse rate in Jupiter’s atmosphere.
Composition Specific heat Acceleration
due to gravity$\text{H}_2$ $13000\ \text{J/kg/K}$ $26\ \text{m/s}^2$ - Mercury has no known natural satellite because of its
