Physics

Allison Fritz

15 June, 11:15

An astronaut visiting Jupiter's satellite Europa leaves a canister of 1.20 mol of nitrogen gas (28.0 g/mol) at 50.0 ∘C on the satellite's surface. Europa has no significant atmosphere, and the acceleration due to gravity at its surface is 1.30 m/s2. The canister springs a leak, allowing molecules to escape from a small hole. Neglect the interaction with surrounding atmosphere. (a) What is the maximum height (in km) above Europa's surface that is reached by a nitrogen molecule whose speed equals the rms speed? Assume that the molecule is shot straight up out of the hole in the canister, and ignore the variation in g with altitude. (b) The escape speed from Europa is 2025 m/s. Can any of the nitrogen molecules escape from Europa and into space?