![Inquiry into Physics](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781337515863/9781337515863_largeCoverImage.jpg)
Concept explainers
Explain why the Moon and Mercury possess only very weak, transient atmospheres consisting of constituents temporarily captured from the solar wind or released by collisions with interplanetary debris.
![Check Mark](/static/check-mark.png)
Why the Moon and Mercury possess only very weak, transient atmospheres consisting of constituents temporarily captured from the solar wind or released by collisions with interplanetary debris.
Answer to Problem 1AS
Both Moon and Mercury possess weak gravitational field which is caused by the dissipation of its atmosphere. Hence, the Moon and Mercury possess only very weak, transient atmospheres.
Explanation of Solution
Mercury is a small planet very close to the Sun; it is hot (having a surface temperature of more than 400 K) and has a low surface gravity (1 g on Mercury equals
Conclusion:
Both Moon and Mercury possess weak gravitational field which is caused by the dissipation of its atmosphere. Hence, the Moon and Mercury possess only very weak, transient atmospheres.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 5 Solutions
Inquiry into Physics
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Fundamentals Of Thermodynamics
EBK FUNDAMENTALS OF THERMODYNAMICS, ENH
Essential University Physics (3rd Edition)
College Physics
Conceptual Physical Science (6th Edition)
Tutorials in Introductory Physics
- In the chapter on fluid mechanics, Bernoulli's equation for the flow of incompressible fluids was explained in terms of changes affecting a small volume dV of fluid. Such volumes are a fundamental idea in the study of the flow of compressible fluids such as gases as well. For the equations of hydrodynamics to apply, the mean free path must be much less than the linear size of such a volume, adV1/3 . For air in the stratosphere at a temperature of 220 K and a pressure of 5.8 kPa, how big should a be for it to be 100 times the mean free path? Take the effective radius of air molecules to be 1.881011 m, which is roughly correct for N2.arrow_forwardDecades ago, it was thought that huge herbivorous dinosaurs such as Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus habitually walked on the bottom of lakes, extending their long necks up to the surface to breathe. Brarhiosaurus had its nostrils on the top of its head. In 1977, Knut Schmidt-Nielsen pointed out that breathing would be too much work for such a creature. For a simple model, consider a sample consisting of 10.0 L of air at absolute pressure 2.00 atm, with density 2.40 kg/m3, located at the surface of a freshwater lake. Find the work required to transport it to a depth of 10.3 m, with its temperature, volume, and pressure remaining constant. This energy investment is greater than the energy that can be obtained by metabolism of food with the oxygen in that quantity of air.arrow_forwardOn Mars, the atmosphere is composed mainly of carbon dioxide. The value of the gas constant for the Martian atmosphere is 192 J/kg-K, and the acceleration of gravity there is 3.72 m/s?. At the average level of the Martian surface, the average temperature is 230 K, the pressure is 790 N/m?. At a certain altitude, the pressure is 680 N/m? and the average temperature is 203 K. 6. The temperature lapse rate is: A) – 0.01613 K/m B) – 0.1613 K/m C) – 1.613 K/m D) None of the above 7. The altitude is: A) 1200 m B) 1675 m C) 1765 m D) None of the abovearrow_forward
- 2. Knudsen number variationA space capsule is 15.6 feet in diameter and weighs 22 metric tons at Earth sea level.(a) Calculate the Knudsen number for the capsule at Earth sea level. Assume a molarmass of 28.9 ×10−3 kg/mol, a molecular diameter of 0.36 nm, and a density of1.225 kg/m3.(b) Calculate the Knudsen number for the capsule as it is approaching the Interna-tional Space Station in low Earth orbit (LEO), 300 km above sea level during a pe-riod of extremely high solar activity. Assume a molar mass of 18.1 ×10−3kg/mol,a molecular diameter of 0.34 nm, and a density of 1.7 × 10−11 kg/m3.(c) Calculate the particle number density at LEO.arrow_forwardb)Air density at 0° C and 1 atmosphere pressure is 1.3 kg / m3. Its density reaches 65 kg / m3 at 0 ° C temperature and 50 atm pressure. What does this incident explain? Where do we take advantage of this feature?arrow_forwardThe table given shows the vapor pressure of water at 20.0ºC as 2.33×103 Pa. Use the ideal gas law to calculate the density of water vapor in g /m3 that would create a partial pressure equal to this vapor pressure. Compare the result with the saturation vapor density given in the table.arrow_forward
- Because humidity depends only on water’s vapor pressure and temperature, are the saturation vapor densities listed in Table 13.5 valid in an atmosphere of helium at a pressure of 1.01×105 N/m2 , rather than air? Are those values affected by altitude on Earth?arrow_forwardA deep-sea diver should breathe a gas mixture that has the same oxygen partial pressure as at sea level, where dry air contains 20.9% oxygen and has a total pressure of 1.01×105 N/m2 . (a) What is the partial pressure of oxygen at sea level?(b) If the diver breathes a gas mixture at a pressure of 2.00×106 N/m2 , what percent oxygen should it be to have the same oxygen partial pressure as at sea level?arrow_forwardOn the surface of a hypothetical planet X, the atmospheric pressure is 4.25 x 106 Pa, and the temperature is 707 K. On the earth's surface the atmospheric pressure is 1.00 x 105 Pa, while the surface temperature can reach 320 K. These data imply that the planet X has a "thicker" atmosphere at its surface than does the earth, which means that the number of molecules per unit volume (N/V) is greater on the surface of planet X than on the earth. Find the ratio (N/V)X/(N/V)Earth.arrow_forward
- You buy an “airtight” bag of potato chips packaged at sea level, and take the chips on an airplane flight. When you take the potato chips out of your “carry-on”bag, you notice it has noticeably “puffed up.” Airplane cabins are typically pressurized at 0.80 atm, and assuming the temperature inside an airplane is about the same as inside a potato chip processing plant, by what percentage has the bag “puffed up” in comparison to when it was packaged? Given : Required : Illustration: Solution: final answer:arrow_forwardDuring a plant visit, it was noticed that a 12-m-long section of a 10-cm-diameter steam pipe is completely exposed to the ambient air. The temperature measurements indicate that the average temperature of the outer surface of the steam pipe is 75°C when the ambient temperature is 5°C. There are also light winds in the area at 10 km/h. The emissivity of the outer surface of the pipe is 0.8, and the average temperature of the surfaces surrounding the pipe, including the sky, is estimated to be 0°C. Determine the amount of heat lost from the steam during a 10-h-long work day. Steam is supplied by a gas-fired steam generator that has an efficiency of 80 percent, and the plant pays $1.05/therm of natural gas. If the pipe is insulated and 90 percent of the heat loss is saved, determine the amount of money this facility will save a year as a result of insulating the steam pipes. Assume the plant operates every day of the year for 10 h. State your assumptions.arrow_forwardConsider a hypothetical atmosphere consisting only of helium (mass = 4 amu) and argon (m = 40 amu). At ground level, the density ratio of the two gases is nHe/ nAr 3.0\times 10-4. At an altitude of 155 km, the density ratio is found to be nHe/nAr = 1.0\times 10-3. Assume the transition from a "well mixed" homosphere to the heterosphere occurs abruptly at the turbopause, which is located somewhere below 155 km Find the altitude where this transition occurs; report your answer in km to 2 significant digits. Assume an isothermal temperature of 1500 K and a constant gravitational acceleration of g = 9.5 m/s2.arrow_forward
- Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based TextPhysicsISBN:9781133104261Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning
![Text book image](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781337515863/9781337515863_smallCoverImage.jpg)
![Text book image](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781133104261/9781133104261_smallCoverImage.gif)
![Text book image](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781938168161/9781938168161_smallCoverImage.gif)