Question

Question 10

3 pts
Our studious (if disagreeable) friends in the astronomy study group are discussing Olympus Mons,
the tallest volcano in our Solar System. They cannot agree on how a (comparatively) small planet like
Mars could produce a volcano that is nearly twice the height of Earth's tallest, Mauna Kea.
Student A: Olympus Mons grew taller because of the length of Martian seasons. Mars' axial tilt is
nearly the same as Earth's, so it experiences the same four seasons. However, since Mars is
about 0.5 AU farther from the Sun, a Martian winter is nearly twice the length of a Hawaiian
winter. This keeps the Martian surface so cold that it erupting lava freezes before it has time to
spread out, preventing the formation of shorter, flatter volcanoes like Mauna Kea.
Student B: Olympus Mons grew taller because Mars lacks moving tectonic plates. Instead of
creating a chain of large volcanoes, Olympus Mons' hotspot produced a single, giant volcano.
Student C: Olympus Mons grew taller because Mars is smaller than Earth. Its reduced mass
means that Mars has a smaller gravitational pull, allowing lava that erupts from the Martian
surface to solidify quicker than it would on a planet with greater mass.
1. Using your own words, explain why you agree with the both of students of the students you feel
are correct.
2. Explain why you disagree with the student you believe is incorrect.

Answer 1

Main reasons Olympus Mons is taller than volcanoes on Earth are:

1. Mars does not have moving tectonic plates.

2. Mars has less gravity so it does not squish volcanoes down.

Here are my thoughts on the students' explanations for why Olympus Mons on Mars is taller than Mauna Kea on Earth:

1. I agree with Student B that the lack of plate tectonics on Mars allowed Olympus Mons to grow very tall from a stationary hotspot, rather than creating a chain of volcanoes like Hawaii. The stationary hotspot means lava consistently built up in one location over billions of years.

2. I also agree with Student C that Mars' lower gravity allows erupted material to reach greater heights before solidifying. The lower gravitational pull exerts less of a flattening force on the volcano as it grows taller.

3. However, I disagree with Student A's explanation about Martian seasons. While Mars does have longer seasons, this would not impact the height of volcanoes. The erupted lava cools and solidifies based on atmospheric conditions at the time of eruption, not because of broader climate cycles. Seasonal changes occur too slowly to affect the solidification process once lava has erupted.

In summary, Mars' lack of plate tectonics and lower gravity allowed Olympus Mons to grow exceptionally tall, but seasonal changes did not directly contribute to its height compared to volcanoes on Earth. The stationary hotspot and lower gravity are the key factors.

claude AI

1. Earth has moving puzzle pieces called tectonic plates. This makes volcanoes spread out in chains.

2. Mars does not have moving puzzle pieces. The volcano stayed in one spot, building up over time. This is like building one tall tower with blocks, instead of multiple smaller towers.

3. Mars is smaller than Earth. This means it has less gravity pulling down. On Earth, gravity squishes volcanoes flatter like pressing down on clay. On Mars, gravity does not squish as much, so volcanoes can grow taller like clay that is not pressed on as hard.

4. Mars does have longer winters. But this does not affect volcano height. Lava cools based on the weather right when it erupts, not because of the whole winter. The winter is too slow to change how fast lava cools after erupting.

So the main reasons Olympus Mons is taller than volcanoes on Earth are:

1. Mars does not have moving tectonic plates.

2. Mars has less gravity so it does not squish volcanoes down.