Jupiter is a gaseous planet. So why doesn't the gas flow out into the space?

Question

Does it have a rocky solid core around which the gases revolve due to gravitational pull ?

Answer 1

Just because something is a gas, doesn't mean it doesn't have gravity. But because of Jupiter's massive size, it would need to have a solid core to be able to have enough density to hold all its gas in. This solid core need not be rocky like earth, and would most likely be close to a smooth sphere, because it's a solid caused by high pressure, not low temperature (it's really hot in the core). Astronomers assume it has a solid core (they don't actually know, because their probes can only go so deep into the surface of Jupiter), surrounded by a layer of liquid (yes, liquid!) hydrogen, then the large volume of gas.

Hope this helps.

Ush, gas does have gravity. All matter does, no matter what state it is in. Even light is affected by gravity (think black holes).

Answer 2

I really don't think that Jupiter would be all gas. I mean, there would have to be a solid core somewhere inbetween.

If it were still all gas then the concentration of the gasses would be so great at the core that it would be able to exhibit a gravitational pull of its own.

But, i do feel that the large size of Jupiter is a result of a lesser gravitational pull due to which the gases are loosely bound to the central core.

Answer 3

As it has been said that the larger the body, the stronger the gravitational force would be. As jupiter is the largest planet it is having the strongest gravity, it could be the reason for which the gas doesn't escape.

Answer 4

The gravity of the core sucks everything into itself and keeps it within the atmospheric limits that prevent the gases from escaping

Answer 5

The density of Jupiter is so high that the gases are liquified into fluids and sucked into the rocky core

Answer 6

Jupiter has a strong g force due to its mass. This mass is concentrated at the centre. Initially, when the solar system was not made up op planets, jup was only made up of huge dust and gas clouds with no proper shape. They started attracting each other due to gravity and then formed huge gas ball which u see today.

Answer 7

gravity and temperature retains the gases.

no, the planet is entirely gaseous. the inner planets orbiting the sun are more solid

Answer 8

Jupiter has a very big rocky core. Because this core is so massive, it is able to keep all of the gases from escaping the planet.

Answer 9

Additional factors:

>> temperature - Jupiter is VERY cold, 152 kelvins. The maximum surface temperature is estimated to be 1/2 that of Earth. What that means is that the kinetic energy of the gases in Jupiter's atmosphere is less, hence, the gases are even less likely to escape gravity's pull. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter

Thus, even though Jupiter's atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium, at less pressure than Earth's atmosphere,

>> escape velocity. While Jupiter's gravity is only about 2.3 times that of Earth, its escape velocity is is 5 times higher, again making it harder for gases to escape: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth

Answer 10

Hi. Same reason as the Sun, Earth's atmosphere, and all the stars in the sky. See your first answer, gravity.