1. In the atmosphere of a planet or large satellite the hot molecules or atoms may be moving fast enough to escape the gravitational potential well that confines the atmosphere to the planet. Why does hydrogen escape more easily than carbon dioxide? 2. Consider the Earth and its atmosphere of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide molecules. At a temperature of 300 K and above the Earth's surface near the edge of "space" (roughly 100 km up), compare the mean speed of these molecules with the escape velocity from Earth's gravity. Are there any molecules out there that can escape? Explain your answer considering the Maxwell distribution of speeds.

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The escape velocity from a massive object is the speed needed to reach an infinite distance from it and have just slowed to a stop, that
is, to have just enough kinetic energy to climb out of the gravitational potential well and have none left. You can find the escape velocity
by equating the total kinetic and gravitational potential energy to zero
E = = muesc - GmM/r=0
Vesc = √2GM/r
where G is Newton's constant of gravitation, M is the mass of the object from which the escape is happening, and r is its radius. This
is physics you have seen in the first part of the course, and you should be able to use it to find an escape velocity from any planet or
satellite. For the Earth, for example the escape velocity is about 11.2 km/s, and for the Moon it is 2.38 km/s. A very important point
about escape velocity: it does not depend on what is escaping. A spaceship or a molecule must have this velocity or more away from
the center of the planet to be free of its gravity,
1. In the atmosphere of a planet or large satellite the hot molecules or atoms may be moving fast enough to escape the gravitational
potential well that confines the atmosphere to the planet. Why does hydrogen escape more easily than carbon dioxide?
2. Consider the Earth and its atmosphere of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide molecules. At a temperature of 300 K and above
the Earth's surface near the edge of "space" (roughly 100 km up), compare the mean speed of these molecules with the escape
velocity from Earth's gravity. Are there any molecules out there that can escape? Explain your answer considering the Maxwell
distribution of speeds.
Transcribed Image Text:The escape velocity from a massive object is the speed needed to reach an infinite distance from it and have just slowed to a stop, that is, to have just enough kinetic energy to climb out of the gravitational potential well and have none left. You can find the escape velocity by equating the total kinetic and gravitational potential energy to zero E = = muesc - GmM/r=0 Vesc = √2GM/r where G is Newton's constant of gravitation, M is the mass of the object from which the escape is happening, and r is its radius. This is physics you have seen in the first part of the course, and you should be able to use it to find an escape velocity from any planet or satellite. For the Earth, for example the escape velocity is about 11.2 km/s, and for the Moon it is 2.38 km/s. A very important point about escape velocity: it does not depend on what is escaping. A spaceship or a molecule must have this velocity or more away from the center of the planet to be free of its gravity, 1. In the atmosphere of a planet or large satellite the hot molecules or atoms may be moving fast enough to escape the gravitational potential well that confines the atmosphere to the planet. Why does hydrogen escape more easily than carbon dioxide? 2. Consider the Earth and its atmosphere of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide molecules. At a temperature of 300 K and above the Earth's surface near the edge of "space" (roughly 100 km up), compare the mean speed of these molecules with the escape velocity from Earth's gravity. Are there any molecules out there that can escape? Explain your answer considering the Maxwell distribution of speeds.
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