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.
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_forwardLate on an autumn day, the relative humidity is 45.0% and the temperature is 20.0C. What will the relative humidity be that evening when the temperature has dropped to 10.0C, assuming constant water vapor density?arrow_forwardIf the relative humidity is 90.0% on a muggy summer morning when the temperature is 20.0C, what will it be later in the day when the temperature is 30.0C, assuming the water vapor density remains constant?arrow_forward
- What is the average velocity of the air molecules in the room where you are right now?arrow_forwardWhat is the density of water vapor in g/m3 on a hot dry day in me desert when the temperature is 40.0C and the relative humidity 15 6.00%?arrow_forward(a) Use the ideal gas equation to estimate the temperature at which 1.00 kg of steam (molar mass M=18.0 g/mol) at a pressure of 1.50106 Pa occupies a volume of 0.220 m3. (b) The van der Waals constants for water are a=0.5537 Pa m6/mol2 and b=3.049105 m3/mol. Use the Van der Waals equation of state to estimate the temperature under the same conditions. (c) The actual temperature is 779 K. Which estimate is better? `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 1.01105N/m2 , rather than air? Are those values affected by altitude on Earth?arrow_forwardUnreasonable Results A meteorite 1.20 cm in diameter is so hot immediately after penetrating the atmosphere that it radiates 20.0 kW of power. (a) What is its temperature, if the surroundings are at 20.0C and it has an emissivity of 0.800? (b) What is unreasonable about this result? (c) Which premise or assumption is responsible?arrow_forwardWhy do fishermen sail out to the sea in the night? What process helps them to sail easily to the sea in the night and come back to the shore in the morning? think about processes like conduction, convection and radiationarrow_forward
- Calculate the total number of degrees of freedom possessed by the molecules in 1cm3 of H2 gas at NTP.arrow_forwardAssume the Earth’s atmosphere has a uniform temperature of 20.0°C and uniform composition, with an effective molar mass of 28.9 g/mol. (a) Show that the number density of molecules depends on height y above sea level according to nV (y) = n0e-m0gy/kBT where n0 is the number density at sea level (where y = 0). This result is called the law of atmospheres. (b) Commercial jetliners typically cruise at an altitude of 11.0 km. Find the ratio of the atmospheric density there to the density at sea level.arrow_forwardWhen a mercury thermometer is warmed , the mercury level momentarily goes down before it rises. Give explanation for this statement.arrow_forward
- College PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781938168000Author:Paul Peter Urone, Roger HinrichsPublisher:OpenStax CollegePrinciples of Physics: A Calculus-Based TextPhysicsISBN:9781133104261Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning