Final answer:
The Earth's atmosphere is composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and other trace gases, which regulate the greenhouse effect. Venus has a thick atmosphere mainly composed of carbon dioxide, resulting in high temperatures. Mars has a thin atmosphere with minimal greenhouse effect, leading to colder temperatures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Earth's atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (N₂) and oxygen (O₂), along with trace amounts of other gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), water vapor (H₂O), and ozone (O₃). The composition of the atmosphere plays a crucial role in regulating the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases like CO₂ and water vapor absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, trapping heat near the Earth's surface and causing a warming effect.
Venus has a thick atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide (CO₂), with a surface pressure about 92 times that of Earth's atmosphere. The greenhouse effect on Venus is extreme due to the high concentration of CO₂, resulting in surface temperatures of about 900°F (475°C).
Mars has a much thinner atmosphere compared to Earth and Venus. It is primarily composed of carbon dioxide (CO₂) with trace amounts of nitrogen (N₂) and argon (Ar). The thin atmosphere on Mars has a minimal greenhouse effect, leading to much colder surface temperatures.