Why Venus is hotter planet than Mercury?a)Venus is nearer to the Sunb)...
The carbon dioxide in Venus' atmosphere traps most of the heat from the Sun. The cloud layers also act as a blanket. Due to this, Venus is hotter than Mercury.
Why Venus is hotter planet than Mercury?a)Venus is nearer to the Sunb)...
Atmospheric Composition:
The main reason why Venus is hotter than Mercury is due to the difference in their atmospheric compositions. Venus has a thick atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide, with traces of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide. This dense atmosphere acts as a greenhouse, trapping heat from the Sun and causing a strong greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse Effect:
The greenhouse effect occurs when certain gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, trap heat radiating from the surface of a planet. In the case of Venus, the thick layer of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere absorbs and traps heat, causing the planet's surface temperature to soar to extreme levels.
Lack of Atmosphere on Mercury:
On the other hand, Mercury has a very thin atmosphere that is mostly composed of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium. This sparse atmosphere is unable to trap heat effectively, leading to dramatic temperature differences between the day and night sides of the planet. As a result, despite being closer to the Sun than Venus, Mercury is not as hot as Venus.
In conclusion, the presence of a thick carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere on Venus creates a strong greenhouse effect, trapping heat and making it a hotter planet compared to Mercury.