Question

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the seasons on Mars?

A. As on Earth, the seasons are caused primarily by axis tilt and orbital distance has virtually no effect.
B. Global winds tend to blow from the summer pole toward the winter pole, sometimes initiating global sand storms.
C. The seasons last almost twice as long on Mars as on Earth.
D. The polar caps shrink in summer and grow in winter.

Answer 1

Option A is incorrect because, while Mars' seasons are primarily caused by its axis tilt, orbital distance does have a slight effect, contrary to it having 'virtually no effect' as stated. The other options correctly describe characteristics of Martian seasons.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student asked which of the following is not a characteristic of the seasons on Mars:

• Axis tilt and orbital distance are factors in the change of seasons.
• Global winds can cause global sand storms.
• The seasons on Mars last almost twice as long as Earth's.
• Polar caps on Mars shrink in summer and grow in winter.

In response to the question, option A is incorrect because on Mars, similar to Earth, axis tilt is the primary reason for the change of seasons. The orbital distance does play a role but it is not the major factor, as variations in the distance to the Sun on Earth are only about 3%, too slight to cause significant seasonal changes. Additionally, Mars has a tilt of about 25°, much like Earth's axis tilt of 23.5°, and this tilt creates the seasons. The martian year is longer, meaning seasons indeed last nearly twice as long as on Earth. Mars does have global winds that can trigger global sand storms. Finally, the polar caps on Mars do change with the seasons, growing in the winter and shrinking in the summer, similar to Earth's polar caps.