Calculate the escape speed from the surface of moon. Radius of the moon is 1600km and acceleration due to gravity on the moon = 1/6 of that on earth. Hence explain why moon has very rarer atmosphere
ESCAPE VELOCITY ON EARTH : v = √2gR
SIMILARLY THIS FORMULA CAN BE APPLIED FOR THE MOON
v = √ 2 x g/6 x 1.6 x 106
PLACING VALUE OF g AS 9.8
v = 103√ 2 x 9.8/6 x 1.6
SOLVING WE GET :
v = 103 x 2.28 m/s
v = 2.3 km/s
THE MOON HAS A VERY RARE ATMOSPHERE DUE TO VERY WEAK GRAVITATIONAL FORCE TO HOLD ANY ATMOSPHERE IN PLACE.
SIMILARLY THIS FORMULA CAN BE APPLIED FOR THE MOON
v = √ 2 x g/6 x 1.6 x 106
PLACING VALUE OF g AS 9.8
v = 103√ 2 x 9.8/6 x 1.6
SOLVING WE GET :
v = 103 x 2.28 m/s
v = 2.3 km/s
THE MOON HAS A VERY RARE ATMOSPHERE DUE TO VERY WEAK GRAVITATIONAL FORCE TO HOLD ANY ATMOSPHERE IN PLACE.