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The factors that determine whether a planet has an atmosphere or not are mass and temperature.

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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.

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A planet's ability to retain an atmosphere depends on what?

A planet's ability to retain an atmosphere primarily depends on its gravitational pull, which must be strong enough to hold onto gas molecules. Additionally, the planet's temperature plays a crucial role; higher temperatures can increase the kinetic energy of gas molecules, making them more likely to escape into space. The presence of a magnetic field can also help protect the atmosphere from solar wind stripping. Finally, the planet's composition and surface conditions can influence atmospheric retention over geological timescales.


Does the moon Mimas have an atmosphere?

Mimas has no atmosphere. It does not have enough mass to hold on to one.


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.


Does the size of the planet affect its atmosphere?

Yes, the size of a planet can affect its atmosphere. Larger planets can hold onto gases more easily due to their stronger gravitational pull, leading to thicker atmospheres. Smaller planets may have thinner atmospheres or none at all if their gravity is too weak to retain gases.


What two planets are hottest and why?

The two hottest planets in our solar system are Venus and Mercury. Venus is the hottest due to its thick atmosphere that traps heat, creating a strong greenhouse effect. Mercury is the second hottest because of its proximity to the sun, although it has no atmosphere to retain the heat.

Related Questions

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 property controls the quantity of atmosphere in planets?

The property that controls the quantity of atmosphere in planets is the planet's gravity. A planet's gravitational force is responsible for holding its atmosphere in place. The stronger the gravity, the more atmosphere a planet can retain. Conversely, lower gravity can result in a thinner or less substantial atmosphere.


Why do outer planets not lose their gas?

Outer planets like Jupiter and Saturn have strong gravitational fields that hold onto their abundant gas layers. Additionally, these planets are further away from the Sun where solar winds are weaker, reducing the loss of gas. The large mass of these planets also contributes to their ability to retain their gas atmosphere.


Does Kuiper Belt have a atmosphere?

No, the Kuiper Belt does not have an atmosphere. It is a region in space beyond Neptune where icy bodies and dwarf planets are found. These objects are too small to retain an atmosphere due to their low gravity.


Does the moon Mimas have an atmosphere?

Mimas has no atmosphere. It does not have enough mass to hold on to one.


What are the two main reason why Jovian planets have much thicker atmoshperes than the Terrestrial planets?

While terrestrial planets are made of rock and have gases in the atmosphere, jovian planets are made almost entirly of gases. If an atmosphere is made of gases in a planet, then the atmosphere of the planets with more gases will be thicker.


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 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.


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 size of the planet affect its atmosphere?

Yes, the size of a planet can affect its atmosphere. Larger planets can hold onto gases more easily due to their stronger gravitational pull, leading to thicker atmospheres. Smaller planets may have thinner atmospheres or none at all if their gravity is too weak to retain gases.


What two planets are hottest and why?

The two hottest planets in our solar system are Venus and Mercury. Venus is the hottest due to its thick atmosphere that traps heat, creating a strong greenhouse effect. Mercury is the second hottest because of its proximity to the sun, although it has no atmosphere to retain the heat.


Why the moon is colder?

No atmosphere to retain heat