- Exceed-Escape-Velocity-0.mp3
- Exceed-Escape-Velocity-0.mp4
- Exceed-Escape-Velocity-I.mp3
- Exceed-Escape-Velocity-I.mp4
- Exceed-Escape-Velocity-intro.mp3
[Intro]
Indeed the need to exceed
… escape velocity
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo]
(With veracity)
[Verse 1]
Radiates back as heat
(Cycle, repeat)
Re-radiate back, ack, ack
(Temperate under attack)
[Bridge]
Indeed the need to exceed
… escape velocity
(With veracity)
[Chorus]
Those gases carry too much weight
(Bearing down on me)
Going to fire me up at this rate
(Burning down all I see)
[Verse 2]
Effectively “trapping” heat
(Nature can’t compete)
Infrared radiation
(Burning sensation)
[Bridge]
Indeed the need to exceed
… escape velocity
(With veracity)
[Chorus]
Those gases carry too much weight
(Bearing down on me)
Going to fire me up at this rate
(Burning down all I see)
[Outro]
Indeed the need to exceed
(… escape velocity)
A SCIENCE NOTE
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapor (H2O), remain trapped in Earth’s atmosphere rather than escaping into space due to several physical principles and atmospheric dynamics:
1. Earth’s Gravity
- Earth’s gravitational force is strong enough to hold gases close to the planet.
- The molecules of greenhouse gases are not moving fast enough to overcome Earth’s gravity and escape into space. For gases to escape, their kinetic energy would have to exceed the planet’s escape velocity (about 11.2 km/s for Earth).
2. Atmospheric Pressure and Density
- The lower layers of the atmosphere are dense, and gases tend to diffuse within these layers, staying trapped closer to the Earth’s surface.
- Greenhouse gases mix and disperse through the atmosphere but remain confined within it due to pressure gradients.
3. Interaction with Infrared Radiation
- Greenhouse gases are particularly effective at absorbing and re-emitting infrared radiation (heat) from the Earth’s surface.
- When solar energy reaches Earth, the surface absorbs it and radiates it back as heat. Greenhouse gas molecules absorb this heat and re-radiate it in all directions, including back toward the surface, effectively “trapping” heat within the atmosphere.
4. Role of Earth’s Atmosphere
- The troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs, acts as the primary reservoir for greenhouse gases.
- Above the troposphere is the stratosphere, which contains the ozone layer and prevents certain gases from rising higher due to temperature gradients and chemical stability.
5. Molecular Weight
- Greenhouse gases, particularly CO2 and CH4, are relatively heavy compared to lighter gases like hydrogen (H2) or helium (He). Lighter gases are more likely to escape Earth’s gravitational pull over time, but heavier greenhouse gases remain trapped within the atmosphere.
6. Earth’s Magnetic Field
- The magnetic field protects Earth from solar wind, which might otherwise strip away the atmosphere over time. This magnetic shield helps retain greenhouse gases and other atmospheric components.
7. Lack of Sufficient Energy for Escape
- Greenhouse gases do not possess enough energy to escape Earth’s atmosphere. Their kinetic energy, dictated by Earth’s atmospheric temperatures, is far below the energy required to escape into space.
Together, these factors ensure that greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere, where they contribute to the greenhouse effect.