Consider the following statements about the Goldilocks zone :1. It is ...
Statement 1: It is a habitable zone around a star where it is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist.
The first statement is correct. The Goldilocks zone, also known as the habitable zone or the circumstellar habitable zone, refers to the region around a star where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist on the surface of a planet. It is not too hot that water evaporates, and not too cold that water freezes. Liquid water is considered essential for the development and sustenance of life as we know it. Therefore, the Goldilocks zone is often considered an important factor in the search for potentially habitable exoplanets.
Statement 2: Venus and Mars are also part of the Goldilocks zone in our solar system.
The second statement is incorrect. Venus and Mars are not part of the Goldilocks zone in our solar system.
Venus is closer to the Sun than the Earth and experiences a runaway greenhouse effect due to its thick atmosphere. This has resulted in extremely high surface temperatures, making it inhospitable for liquid water. The average temperature on Venus is around 900 degrees Fahrenheit (475 degrees Celsius), which is far too hot for liquid water to exist.
Mars, on the other hand, is further from the Sun and has a thin atmosphere. While Mars does have regions where temperatures can occasionally reach above the freezing point of water, its average temperatures are well below freezing. The atmospheric pressure on Mars is also extremely low, which further limits the possibility of liquid water. Therefore, neither Venus nor Mars are within the Goldilocks zone.
Statement 3: The celestial bodies within the Goldilocks zone must have an atmosphere.
The third statement is incorrect. While an atmosphere can certainly contribute to the habitability of a planet within the Goldilocks zone, it is not a requirement. The primary factor determining the habitability of a planet within this zone is the presence of liquid water. However, an atmosphere can help regulate temperatures, protect against harmful radiation, and provide necessary gases for life. Examples of potentially habitable exoplanets include those within the Goldilocks zone, with or without atmospheres.
Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 2, making option C the correct answer.