Why is there air?

Question

My boss would like to know why there is air. We want the awnser before she hits the door.

Come on folks, bust out the science.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

The air as we know it was formed when plants began cracking carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Before that, the atmosphere which had evaporated from the molten rock earth was after the collision with what became the moon contained mainly carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Air is a mixture of gases which are too light to form liquids or solids at surface temperature and too heavy to escape earth's gravity. Main components are nitrogen (78%), oxygen (20%) and argon (1%). The rest are a range of other molecules as well as some solids or liquids suspended in small particles.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

nice and science-y..

Answer 2

to breath

Answer 3

for us to breath
to protect us from the sun's harmful rays

Answer 4

The answer is gravity. Earths gravity helps keep the atmosphere around the planet.

The moon and Mercury on the other hand are too small to have enough gravity to hold their atmosphere. Which is also why Jupiter the largest planet has such a dense atmosphere.

Source(s):

to read more:
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/ph…