Atmospheric Escape
Answer all questions, show all work. Please use complete, well-formed sentences were needed.

Questions and Calculations

  1. What is the velocity of a hydrogen molecule at 1AU? (show all work)






  2. Compare this velocity to the escape velocity of the Earth. Do you think the Earth could hold on to an atmosphere of hydrogen for the age of the solar system? Explain why or why not.






  3. What is the velocity of a nitrogen molecule at 1 AU?






  4. Do you think the Earth could hold on to an atmosphere of nitrogen for the age of the solar system? Explain why or why not.






  5. Do you think the Moon could hold on to an atmosphere of nitrogen for the age of the solar system? Explain why or why not.






  6. Estimate how far out our Earth would have to be from the Sun before it is cool enough to retain a hydrogen atmosphere.






  7. Estimate how far out our Moon would have to be from the Sun before it is cool enough to retain a nitrogen atmosphere.






  8. Compare your answers to the above 2 questions to the distances of some of the major planets and moons of the outer solar system. Comment on what your comparisons show.







  9. In one well-written paragraph, summarize what you have learned from this activity. Include mention of the presence or lack of an atmosphere for the inner planets and moons, and the composition of the atmospheres of the outer planets.










Last updated on: