Pressurised Atmosphere

[Byebyebadman]

If space is a vacuum and the earth's atmosphere is pressurised what holds the atmosphere in and stops it being sucked into the oblivion of space?

[douglas9401]

An 'air net.

[bhg481]

gravity. There is a gravitational attraction between each air molecule and the earth.

[waterboatman]

Correct.

[mibn2cweus]

The sky is falling . . .

[Togo]

Our atmosphere is a mixture of gases that surround Earth. It is kept in place by the pull of Earth's gravity. If Earth was a much smaller planet, like Mercury or Pluto, or had less mass(like Mars) our gravity would be to weak to hold a large atmosphere.

After all Earth is "Made of Stone". :))

[murraymints]

Oo er too too early for that

[1ozzy]

Centrifugal effects would indicate that everything would disappear into "space" as the earth spins at a rapid rate.

Thanks to gravity this doesn't happen.

[mikey4444]

At a guess I think its gravity.

[EDDIE51]

Yes it's Gravity. The larger the planet, the greater the gravity, the higher the atmospheric pressure. Jupiter has an atmospheric pressure hundreds of times greater than that of Earth.

[Old_Geezer]

Every planet sucks, and sucks sooo bad.

[Byebyebadman]

I see what you did there Togo!

[Togo]

Lol Byebyebadman. Ta for that. Huge fan myself. Went to Heaton Park and the Etihad. Ohhh I am pushing 70 btw.

[Old_Geezer]

You just rose to the occasion.

[Togo]

I think a change of Avatar is in order for today Geezer. :))