EXPLORING MARS 
 

MARTIAN CONUNDRUMS

Conundrum 1: Gravity

You have a super-bouncy ball. You hold it one metre above the ground. You drop it on to a flat hard rock and it bounces 98 cm, straight back up. That is on Earth.

If you do the same on Mars, how high will it bounce?

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Solutions


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conundrum 2: The Atmosphere

You make a paper plane and throw it in still air. It is well made and very stable so it glides along a straight flightpath to the ground and lands 10 metres away. That is on Earth.

If you do the same on Mars, how far will it travel? You can assume the air temperature on both planets is freezing point.

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Solutions

Conundrum 3: Sun and Solar Panels

Power to MARTI's spacecraft is supplied by solar panels. When in Earth orbit 10 square metres of panels are enough to supply all our power needs.

How many square metres of panel will we need to supply all our needs when we reach Mars. Remember that our spacecraft will be in orbit around Mars for several years.

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Solutions

Conundrum 4: Mass

MARTI's mass on Earth is 120 kg. What is it on Mars?


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Solutions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conundrum 5: Base

If you are going to build a manned Mars base. It is recommended that you bury it. Give three reasons why this is good idea.

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Solutions


Image: © Nasa

 

 

 

 

Conundrum 6: Directions

Let us assume a manned Mars base is built and you are on Mars.

It is spring, and you are near the enormous shield of the Olympus Mons volcano. It is a still, dark night and you want to return to your base before sun-rise. You know it lies to the north-east, but you don't know which way that is. You have a standard compass, a star chart and a torch.

Which item is going to be the most use and why?

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Solutions

Hint

 

Return to rover

 


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