Expert: Spaceman - 12/15/2004

Question
If a BMW Beetle was to suddenly appear on the surface of venus, how long (about) would it take for  the car to desinegrate. Why would it melt?

Answer
Hello Graham:

I think you mean a VW Beetle!

Anyway, the conditions on the surface on Venus would be hard on anything that melts above 900 degrees F. The steel body of a VW may well hang-on (no temperature problem)for a few days but would then be dissolved by the Sulfuric acid.

Web Quote: Conditions on Venus make exploring the planet extremely difficult. Thick white clouds completely block the view of its surface. Corrosive sulfuric acid clouds eat away at any spacecraft that passes through its carbon dioxide atmosphere, and extremely high temperatures (450 degrees Celsius, or 900 degrees Fahrenheit) and an incredibly dense atmosphere greet any visitor to its surface.

The average atmospheric pressure on the surface of Venus is a crushing 2/3 of a ton per square inch. For comparison, the average atmospheric pressure on Earth (calculated at sea level) is equal to 14.7 pounds per square inch.

These are the basics Graham, I do not fully agree with these "facts" myself, but this is another issue.

My Best Wishes,
Spaceman