Mercury: The Swift Planet

The video explores Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, highlighting its unique features such as its rapid orbit, elliptical path, and 2:3 spin-orbit resonance. Despite its proximity to the Sun, Mercury has water ice in polar craters. Observations from space probes like Mariner 10 and MESSENGER have revealed its cratered surface and large iron core. The video also discusses Mercury's minimal atmosphere and magnetic field, providing insights into its formation and characteristics.

Which Roman god is Mercury associated with due to its swift movement?

• Jupiter

• Mars

• Mercury

• Venus

What is the maximum angular separation Mercury can achieve from the Sun?

• 15°

• 28°

• 45°

• 60°

How long does it take for Mercury to complete one orbit around the Sun?

• 365 days

• 176 days

• 88 days

• 58 days

What is the ratio of Mercury's day to its year?

• 1:1

• 2:3

• 3:2

• 1:2

What phenomenon causes the Sun to appear to move backward in Mercury's sky?

• Mercury's magnetic field

• Mercury's rapid rotation

• Mercury's elliptical orbit

• Mercury's dense atmosphere

Which space probe first mapped about half of Mercury's surface?

• MESSENGER

• Voyager 1

• Mariner 10

• Pioneer 10

What is the largest impact feature on Mercury called?

• Tycho Crater

• Olympus Mons

• Valles Marineris

• Caloris Basin

What is surprising about Mercury's magnetic field?

• It is absent on Mercury

• It is stronger than Earth's

• It exists despite Mercury's slow rotation

• It is caused by Mercury's atmosphere

Where is water ice found on Mercury?

• On its surface

• On its equator

• In deep craters at its poles

• In its atmosphere

What is the primary reason for Mercury's dense composition?

• Its large iron core

• Its proximity to the Sun

• Its large size

• Its thick atmosphere