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The factors that determine whether a planet has an atmosphere or not are mass and temperature.
Not exactly...
There are two main factors that determine whether a planet can develop and keep an atmopshere and they are the escape velocity of the planet (how fast the object has to go to escape the gravitational pull) and the speed of the molecules in the atmosphere.
For example the escape velocity for earth is about 11km/s (25,ooomph)
Other factors include proximity to a larger body that can will steal the atmosphere away, and distance to the sun which produces solar wind that can literally blow the atmosphere away.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoEither the planet does not have enough gravity to hold an atmosphere (like most moons). Or the planet might have had an atmosphere earlier but was blown away by the Sun's solar wind (like most of Mars' atmosphere)
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe mass is a critical factor. If the planet is too small it will not be able to keep an atmosphere.
Proximity to a star. If a planet is too close to a star the stellar wind will blow off any gasses.
Volcanic and biologic activity. If new gasses are fed into the atmosphere it will remain stable.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoA planet's mass is a very important factor.
The gravitational pull needs be strong enough to keep an atmosphere.
A really important number here is the "escape velocity".
It's usually easier for a planet to keep an atmosphere if it has a low temperature. A low temperature makes it hard for gas molecules to reach the planet's escape velocity.
Of course it's complicated. Venus has a much thicker atmosphere than Earth, but Venus is hotter.
Magnetic fields (to keep charged particles from ionising molecules in the atmosphere).
Comments: I think a magnetic field can actually help ionised gases to escape, along the magnetic field lines.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoit may be gravity but Joshua ochoa is not sure of this answer find a better source!!
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoGravity
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What planet has many craters but no atmosphere?
There are probably a very great number of planets in our galaxy with no atmosphere. Of the 400+ planets that we know of, we can only determine the presence or absence of an atmosphere for the 8 planets in THIS solar system; our technology is not yet good enough to study atmospheres from several light-years distance. Of the planets of this solar system, we are fairly sure that Mercury has no atmosphere to speak of. Of the other seven, we know that Mars has a very thin atmosphere, but enough to use a parachute in. If we include dwarf planets, we can say with some certainty that Ceres doesn't have enough mass to retain an atmosphere, and Pluto's atmosphere is almost certainly all frozen by now.
What do greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and retain?
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and retain infrared radiation (heat) from the surface of the earth.
Does the atmosphere retain heat at night?
Yes it does.
The ability of material to retain its magnetism is known as?
Retntivety
Why are the planets their temperature?
Since Mercury is the closest to the sun, therefore it is the warmest..The Dwarf Planet, pluto is the coldest because it the furthest away from the sun.The temperature of any given planet is determined by a number of factors. The most important factor is the distance of the planetary orbit from the sun. Planets closer to the sun receive more sunlight, which makes them hotter. Planets distant from the sun receive less sunlight and are colder. In addition, the composition of the planet's atmosphere has an effect on the temperature. Both Venus and Earth have atmospheres which tend to retain heat, and therefore, both planets are hotter than they might be with a different kind of atmosphere or with no atmosphere.
What affect does gravity have on the planets?
The planets' own gravity has made them spherical. Also there are other effects such as their ability to retain an atmosphere, etc. The Sun's gravitycauses the orbits of the planets.
What planet has many craters but no atmosphere?
There are probably a very great number of planets in our galaxy with no atmosphere. Of the 400+ planets that we know of, we can only determine the presence or absence of an atmosphere for the 8 planets in THIS solar system; our technology is not yet good enough to study atmospheres from several light-years distance. Of the planets of this solar system, we are fairly sure that Mercury has no atmosphere to speak of. Of the other seven, we know that Mars has a very thin atmosphere, but enough to use a parachute in. If we include dwarf planets, we can say with some certainty that Ceres doesn't have enough mass to retain an atmosphere, and Pluto's atmosphere is almost certainly all frozen by now.
How hot are dwarf planets?
Not to hot at all as they have no atmosphere to retain heat. It would be like being the vacuum of space. In fact, it actually is exactly like being in the vacuum of space!
What do greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and retain?
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and retain infrared radiation (heat) from the surface of the earth.
Why is air thin on earth?
Planets generally retain an amount of atmosphere that their gravitation field can hold, against the tendency of a gas to leak away into outer space. Thus, the atmosphere of the Earth is denser than that of Mars, but thinner than that of Jupiter.
Does the atmosphere retain heat at night?
Yes it does.
Why the moon is colder?
No atmosphere to retain heat
There is no atmosphere on moon why?
The moon is too small to created the gravity necessary to retain an atmosphere.
Perpetually young tissues where cells retain the ability to divide are what?
Perpetually young tissues where cells retain the ability to divide are meristematic. Meristematic tissues are cells or group of cells that have the ability to divide.
The ability of material to retain its magnetism is known as?
Retntivety
What is capillarity in soil?
it is the ability of soil to retain water
How does the temperature of the planets vary with the distance from the sun?
The further a planet is from the sun, the less light and heat radiation it gets from the sun leaving it a cooler planet. However, a planet with a gaseous atmosphere is less likely to radiate away the planets heat so it may retain more of the solar heat.
