Question

As you found in Part A, early Mars had both core convection and a strong magnetosphere. What is the connection between these two things?A) Both core convection and a magnetosphere are consequences of a strong greenhouse effect. B) Core convection helps generate a magnetic field, and the magnetic field creates the magnetosphere. C) Core convection creates volcanism and outgassing, the gas creates the magnetosphere. D) Both core convection and a magnetosphere can exist only a very young planet.

Answer 1

Answer:

Correct answer is option B) Core convection helps generate a magnetic field, and the magnetic field creates the magnetosphere.

Explanation:

In its first millions of years, Mars had, just as Earth does today, a cast iron core responsible for generating the magnetosphere, the magnetic shield that repels solar particles. This shield prevents the solar wind from impacting our atmosphere fulfilled the same function on Mars during its first 500 million years.

But Mars is smaller than Earth and, about 4.2 billion years ago, this molten core froze. Upon freezing, the magnetic field was lost and the solar wind swept through the planet's atmosphere.