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, thatis, to have just enough kinetic energy to climb out of the gravitational potential well and have none left. You can find the escape velocityby equating the total kinetic and gravitational potential energy to zeroE = = muesc - GmM/r=0Vesc = √2GM/rwhere 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. Thisis 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 orsatellite. 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 pointabout escape velocity: it does not depend on what is escaping. A spaceship or a molecule must have this velocity or more away fromthe 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 gravitationalpotential 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 abovethe Earth's surface near the edge of "space" (roughly 100 km up), compare the mean speed of these molecules with the escapevelocity from Earth's gravity. Are there any molecules out there that can escape? Explain your answer considering the Maxwelldistribution of speeds.

1-Average velocity of any one molecule is measured by temperature of gas. But velocity of individual…

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.

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.

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections

1st Edition

ISBN:9781133939146

Author:Katz, Debora M.

Publisher:Katz, Debora M.

Chapter8: Conservation Of Energy

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 12PQ

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