Atmosphere is held around the earth due toa)Continuous magnetic activi...
Justification: Celestial bodies like Moon don’t have an atmosphere because
their gravity isn’t enough to hold the atmosphere together with the body.
Since gravity is low, and gases are lighter, they escape from the celestial
body.
This is not the case with earth, where gravitation is high enough to hold the
gases together. Escape velocity of gases on earth is much higher than that
on some other celestial bodies like Moon.
Learning: Atmosphere also protects us from the harmful rays and
scorching heat of the sun. It consists of a number of gases, dust and water
vapour.
The changes in the atmosphere produce changes in the weather and
climate.
Q Source: Page 3: Geography NCERT 7th: Our Environment
View all questions of this test
Atmosphere is held around the earth due toa)Continuous magnetic activi...
Gravitational pull of the earth
The atmosphere is held around the Earth primarily due to the gravitational pull of the Earth. The force of gravity between two objects depends on their mass and distance. The Earth has a large mass, which creates a strong gravitational pull that keeps the atmosphere in place.
Gravity and the atmosphere
Gravity is the force that attracts objects toward the center of the Earth. It is responsible for holding everything on the surface of the Earth, including the atmosphere. The Earth's gravitational pull acts on the gases in the atmosphere and prevents them from escaping into space.
The Earth's mass and gravity
The Earth has a large mass, which means it has a strong gravitational pull. This gravitational pull is what keeps the atmosphere close to the Earth's surface. The mass of the Earth creates a gravitational field that extends into space. The atmosphere is within this gravitational field and is held in place by the Earth's gravity.
Escaping the Earth's gravity
In order for an object to escape the Earth's gravity and enter space, it needs to reach a certain velocity called the escape velocity. The escape velocity depends on the mass of the planet and its radius. For Earth, the escape velocity is about 11.2 kilometers per second. This means that any gas molecules in the atmosphere would need to reach this velocity in order to escape into space. The majority of gas molecules in the atmosphere do not have enough energy to reach this velocity and therefore remain trapped by the Earth's gravity.
Other factors
While the gravitational pull of the Earth is the primary force that holds the atmosphere in place, there are other factors that can affect the atmosphere. For example, solar wind and coronal mass ejections from the Sun can interact with the Earth's magnetic field and cause some atmospheric particles to escape into space. However, these effects are relatively small compared to the overall gravitational pull of the Earth.
Overall, the atmosphere is held around the Earth primarily due to the gravitational pull of the Earth. The Earth's mass creates a strong gravitational field that prevents the majority of gas molecules in the atmosphere from escaping into space. This gravitational pull is essential for maintaining the atmosphere and supporting life on Earth.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.