Which factor or factors, more than any other, have allowed Titan to retain an at

Question

Which factor or factors, more than any other, have allowed Titan to retain an atmosphere?

A. Its many active volcanoes continuously replenish the atmosphere with gas, which is continuously escaping into space.
B. The molecular constituents of its atmosphere are heavy and cannot therefore escape Titan's gravity.
C. Its surface temperature is too low to allow the nitrogen gas in its atmosphere to escape from Titan's gravitational force.
D. Its gravitational force has allowed it to acquire atmospheric gases from Saturn.

Explanation / Answer

Option D is correct

Titan itself doesn't have a magnetic field, but Saturn does. Saturn's magnetosphere is produced by the motion of the super-compressed hydrogen gas inside the planet (metallic fluid). The field is so strong it encompasses the satellites, including Titan.

Saturn doesn't have the same magma as Earth. Earth is a rocky planet. This means that it was formed so close to the sun that light gases (such as hydrogen) could not coalesce due to the high temperature and the solar wind. Therefore, the inner planets (Mercury to Mars) are composed mostly of rock and metal. It's the liquid iron in the outer core that makes Earth magnetic.

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