From previous missions, we now have a good understanding of the temperature extremes on Mars.  On average, the planet has a temperature of -80°F.  At the equator, daytime temperatures during the Martian summer can actually reach 70°F, but summer nighttime temperatures can plummet to -100°F. Hence, human survival will depend on maintaining a relatively stable temperature regime.  Once colonization occurs, imagine a human Martian is out exploring the surface during the day but loses her way and is stranded going into the cold summer night.  First, what is temperature?

Many of the rovers have studied the surface of Mars and collected samples of Martian soil.  Analysis of one prominent element indicates that in its natural state it contains 26 electrons and has 4 more neutrons than it does protons. What is the Atomic Number and Atomic Mass of this element?

How much energy is created or destroyed in an energy pyramid?

To support colonization of Mars, food will need to be grown.  A variety of plants, grown in greenhouses, will support the human population.  Plants will convert energy onto chemical energy.

  Cigarette smoking is addictive.  

As thermal energy is exhausted to the Martian atmosphere from the buildings of the colony, it is initially concentrated around the exhaust ports.   Which of the two systems below best depicts this initial condition? (Recall that each arrow represents an atom or molecule and the length of the arrow correlates to the amount of thermal energy it contains, or the speed of its motion)

A certain element is composed of two isotopes, having the mass and abundance shown below.  What is the average atomic mass unit (amu) for this element?     Mass  Abundance Isotope 1:  6.0 amu      7.59% Isotope 2:  7.0 amu     92.41% (Hint: Atomic mass = Σ(mass of isotope)(abundance of isotope))

Form a sentence that correctly uses ‘heat’ in it with reference to the human Martian and the Martian atmosphere as night begins. 

Many missions have looked for evidence of past life on Mars.  Some scientists maintain that not only did life exist on Mars in the past, it still exists today, likely hidden away under the surface.  If you were to be making observations of potential living things on Mars, what are three characteristics of living things would you look for? Identify and describe each.

An atom that loses an electron is _______.