Question
The Jupiter has a mass 318 times that of the earth and its radius is 11.2 times the earth’s radius. Estimate the escape velocity of a body from the Jupiter’s surface, given that the escape velocity from the earth’s surface is 11.2 km/s. Does your answer throw any light on why the atmosphere of the Jupiter contains light gases, mostly hydrogen, whereas the earth’s atmosphere has little of hydrogen gas?
Solution
Given,
Mass of Jupiter is 318 times mass of the Earth.
i.e., Mj = 318Me
Radius is 11.2 times the radius of the Earth.
Rj = 11.2Re
We know that the escape velocity of body from a planet is given by,
∴
= 59.7 km/sec
Escape velocity for Jupiter is high as compared to the average speed of light gas molecules like hydrogen.
Therefore, atmosphere of the Jupiter contains light gases like hydrogen.
Mass of Jupiter is 318 times mass of the Earth.
i.e., Mj = 318Me
Radius is 11.2 times the radius of the Earth.
Rj = 11.2Re
We know that the escape velocity of body from a planet is given by,
∴
= 59.7 km/sec
Escape velocity for Jupiter is high as compared to the average speed of light gas molecules like hydrogen.
Therefore, atmosphere of the Jupiter contains light gases like hydrogen.
