Question

select the statement that best explains why venus is hotter than earth.
venus is closer to the sun than earth.
venuss atmosphere contains more co2 than the earths atmosphere.
venuss atmosphere is thicker than earths atmosphere.
venus has an atmosphere while earth does not.

planet	atmosphere with ghgs	global average temp (f)	high temp (f)	low temp (f)
venus	mostly co₂	874	867	847
earth	some co₂	61	136	-129
moon	none	-37	224	-298
mars	very little co₂	-67	70	-200

Explanation:

• Analyze each option:
• Option 1: While Venus is closer to the Sun, the table shows Mercury (closer than Venus) has a lower global average temp than Venus, so proximity alone isn't the main reason.
• Option 2: Venus's atmosphere is mostly \( \text{CO}_2 \) (a greenhouse gas), Earth has some \( \text{CO}_2 \). Greenhouse gases trap heat, and more \( \text{CO}_2 \) in Venus's atmosphere leads to more heat retention, explaining its higher temp.
• Option 3: Thickness alone doesn't explain; the type of gas (greenhouse gas like \( \text{CO}_2 \)) is key, as seen from Mercury/Moon (no GHGs, lower temp) and Mars (little \( \text{CO}_2 \), low temp).
• Option 4: Earth does have an atmosphere, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

Venus's atmosphere contains more \( \text{CO}_2 \) than the earth's atmosphere.