Question

Read paragraphs 12 through 14 from the passage.

(12) Up to 50 times more stable than the atomic clocks on GPS satellites, NASA's Deep Space Atomic Clock is intended to be the most stable atomic clock ever flown in space. It achieves this stability by using mercury ions.
(13) Ions are atoms that have a net electric charge, rather than being electrically neutral. In any atomic clock, the atoms are contained in a vacuum chamber, and in some of those clocks, atoms interact with the vacuum chamber walls. Environmental changes such as temperature will then cause similar changes in the atoms and lead to frequency errors. Many atomic clocks use neutral atoms, but because the mercury ions have an electric charge, they can be contained in an electromagnetic "trap" to prevent this interaction from happening, allowing the Deep Space Atomic Clock to achieve a new level of precision.
(14) For missions going to distant destinations like Mars or other planets, such precision makes autonomous navigation possible with minimal communication to and from Earth — a huge improvement in how spacecraft are currently navigated.

How does the information in paragraph 12 connect the information provided in paragraphs 13 and 14?

A. by explaining the similarities and differences between mercury ions and electrically neutral atoms
B. by explaining the process navigators use to calculate a spacecraft's trajectory using communications to and from Earth
C. by explaining how the use of mercury ions in the Deep Space Atomic Clock makes autonomous navigation possible
D. by explaining how scientists determined that NASA's Deep Space Atomic Clock is 50 times more stable than atomic clocks on GPS satellites

Answer 1

The information in paragraph 12 explains that the stability of NASA's Deep Space Atomic Clock, using mercury ions, enables more precise autonomous navigation in space as detailed in paragraphs 13 and 14.

Step-by-step explanation:

The information provided in paragraph 12 connects to the details in paragraphs 13 and 14 by explaining how the use of mercury ions in the Deep Space Atomic Clock makes autonomous navigation possible. In paragraph 13, it is elaborated that ions, such as mercury ions, are used because their electric charge allows them to be contained in an electromagnetic trap, avoiding interactions that cause frequency errors. This containment means that environmental changes that would affect neutral atoms are not an issue for the charged ions. Consequently, as stated in paragraph 14, the increased precision of the clock enables spacecraft to navigate autonomously with minimal communication to and from Earth, making deep space missions more efficient and reliable.

Answer 2

C. By explaining how the use of mercury ions in the Deep Space Atomic Clock makes autonomous navigation possible.

Hope this helps!

Step-by-step explanation: