What factors determine the rate of loss of gases from a planet's ...

[tatyanajohnson]

What factors determine the rate of loss of gases from a planet's atmosphere?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What evidence do we have that the surface of Mars has never divided into moving plates?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[dmurph1496]

Answer to Question 1

A low escape velocity makes it easier for rapidly moving gas molecules to escape into space. Another factor is the temperature of a planet. On colder planets, the gas molecules in its atmosphere travel more slowly and cannot easily escape. Also, an ozone layer protects the atmosphere from ultraviolet radiation. The ultraviolet photons can break atmospheric molecules up into smaller fragments, which escape more easily. For example, water can be broken up into hydrogen and oxygen.

Answer to Question 2

The vast size of Olympus Mons is evidence that the crust of Mars must have remained stationary over the hot spot (magma source), and Mars has not had horizontal plate tectonics.

[tatyanajohnson]

Thanks

[dmurph1496]

Welcome