A Gas Eventually Will Escape from a Planet's Atmosphere If

question 45

Multiple Choice

A gas eventually will escape from a planet's atmosphere if the average velocity of the atoms exceeds 1/6 times the escape velocity of the planet. If the average velocity of water vapor in Venus's atmosphere is 0.9 km/s, would it eventually escape into outer space? Note that Venus's mass is 5 * 10²⁴ kg and its radius is 6,050 km.

• A) Water vapor would escape because 1/6 times the escape velocity is 0.51 km/s.
• B) Water vapor would not escape because 1/6 times the escape velocity is 1.7 km/s.
• C) Water vapor would escape because 1/6 times the escape velocity is 0.42 km/s.
• D) Water vapor would not escape because 1/6 times the escape velocity is 2.6 km/s.
• E) Water vapor would escape because 1/6 times the escape velocity is 1.3 km/s.

---

Definitions:

Board Of Directors

A group of individuals elected by shareholders to oversee the management and make major decisions for a corporation.

CEO

The Chief Executive Officer, the highest-ranking person in a company or other institution, ultimately responsible for making managerial decisions.

Earnings Benchmarks

Specific targets or metrics used to measure a company's financial performance or profitability over a set period.

Wall Street

The financial district of New York City, known as a major global finance hub and often used as a metonym for the financial markets of the United States.