0
Why don't earth's atmospheric gases escape into the near-vacuum of space?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Gravity.
Earth does lose some light gases (such as Hydrogen and Helium) into space, but for the most part, Oxygen and Nitrogen are too heavy to escape Earth's gravitational pull.
Not true with Jupiter. Jupiter is so massive that it hoards all gases, including some 300 Earth masses' worth of Hydrogen.
Heat has a lot to do with it too. Even though the Sun is tremendously massive (332,000 times as heavy as the Earth), it is so hot from Hydrogen fusing at its core that the Sun blows off millions of tons worth of Hydrogen per second - resulting in the "Solar Wind".
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe heavier gases cannot reach escape velocity, and are therefore pulled back to earth; the more massive the planet is (Earth) the more atmosphere it will have.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoSome of it does; the only reason planets still have atmospheres is because their gravity pulls the gasses back.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoAir has a mass. Because of this, gravity has an effect on it. Therefore, the gravity is holding the air from escaping into space.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoYes gasses occupy all of their available space, but the reason we have an atmosphere, is because the Earth's gravitational pull is strong enough, to prevent atmospheric gasses from escaping.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoIt does - but slowly as the Earth's gravity pulls it toward the surface of the planet.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
The atmospheric gases in the thermosphere are heated by what?
directly by the sun.
What kind of gas is most affected by thermal escape?
Light gases; Gases that are light weight will more easily reach escape velocity than heavier gases.
The is the lowest atmospheric layer that contains greenhouse gases A Troposphere B Stratosphere C Both A and B D None of the Above?
The lowest atmospheric layer that contains greenhouse gases is the troposphere
What gases were present in earths today atmosphere?
Nitrogen
What Gases in earths atmosphere exert what on everything?
Pressure
Where does all of the earths atmospheric gases lie?
The troposphere.
Are there any gases in the earths crust?
All of the atmospheric gases can be found trapped in magma and solidified rock.
How do ocean currents originate and affect Earths climates?
How are atmospheric gases like the glass in a greenhouse
What are Earths's atmospheric gases?
well there are thousands of gases that will ruin the environment but let me tell you fart gas plays a big part and sorry to say but i probably contribute 90% of all fart gas in the world.
What atmospheric gases help to heat the earth?
The atmospheric gases carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are all greenhouse gases that help to heat the Earth.
What is Neptune's atmospheric gases?
it is hydrogen
How are atmospheric gases like the gases in a greenhouse?
The glass on the greenhouse stops temperature from leaving or entering like the gases do to the earth.The atmospheric gases are called 'greenhouse gases' based on the idea that the gases 'trap' heat like the walls of a greenhouse do
Why do Jupiter gases not escape?
Jupiter gases do not escape because Jupiter has enough gravity to hold the gases in place.
What are mercury's atmospheric gases?
Hydrogen, Helium
Where do these main gases come from?
they come from earths atmosphere and gases
What is a method to liquify the atmospheric gases?
To liquify atmospheric gasses, industry compresses and cools air.
What is the makeup of earths atmosphere?
Gases
