Earthed

What do we conclude if a planet has few impact craters of any size?

What do we conclude if a planet has few impact craters of any size?

The planet was never bombarded by asteroids or comets.

Its atmosphere stopped impactors of all sizes.

Other geological processes have wiped out craters.

Public Comments

1. It has an atmosphere
   
   
   
   It also may be because it is not a solid planet such as the gas giants.
2. The last option is the only sensible one.
   
   
   
   It is pretty much inconceivable that planets never get hit by chunks of rock
   
   and the atmosphere can't burn up big rocks
3. I agree with Angela
4. All three options are plausible. The last answer is probably the one your homework is looking for.
   
   
   
   On Earth craters have been obliterated by weather and geology. Ditto Venus. On Jupiter's moons it's geology.
   
   
   
   Anything big enough to make a creater will not be stopped by Earth's atmosphere.
5. the planet could be active,they could have been covered up by volcanic activity or moving plates
6. Since all planets must form from the accretion process, which is rather messy and involves being impacted by asteroids and comets, that cannot be correct.
   
   If you can see the surface of the planet with an atmosphere, it isn't thick enough to stop every impactor. So thats incorrect.
   
   Obviously, like earth, geological processes, usually running water and gravity, or plate tectonics for the really big features, is the correct answer.