Mercury and the Moon do not have atmospheres because
A) their surfaces are so cold that any atmospheric gases freeze out onto their surfaces
B) charged particles from the Sun have stripped away their atmospheres
C) they are rotating too rapidly, causing their atmospheres to be thrown out into space
D) their gravities are too weak to prevent atmospheric gases escaping into space

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The weak gravity of both Mercury and the Moon is not strong enough to hold on to atmospheric gases, allowing them to escape into space. The other options are not true as both Mercury and the Moon are not rotating rapidly enough to cause their atmospheres to be thrown out into space, and charged particles from the sun are not the main cause for their lack of atmosphere. Although the surfaces of both Mercury and the Moon are cold, this is not the main reason why they lack atmospheres.

Mercury and the Moon Do Not Have Atmospheres Because