What is the difference between space and the atmosphere?
Space and the atmosphere are fundamentally different environments surrounding celestial bodies. Simply put, space is the vacuum existing between celestial bodies, while the atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding a celestial body.
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Composition: Space is essentially a vacuum, lacking a significant concentration of gases. The atmosphere, conversely, is a mixture of gases; for example, Earth's atmosphere comprises primarily nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide. [Reference: Space is the vacuum that exists between celestial bodies. The simplest explanation is that it's just an empty area . Atmosphere on the other hand is the sum of gases that suround a celestial body. Our atmosphere for example is composed of nitrogen oxygen argon and carbon dioxide.26-Feb-2017]
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Pressure: Space has extremely low pressure, essentially a vacuum. Earth's atmosphere at sea level has a pressure of about 14.7 pounds per square inch, decreasing significantly with altitude. [Reference: At sea level, air pressure is about 14.7 pounds per square inch (1 kilogram per square centimeter), and the atmosphere is relatively dense. At ]
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Gravity: While gravity exists in space and influences celestial bodies, the effects of a planet's gravitational pull are significantly stronger within its atmosphere. The atmosphere is held in place by the planet's gravity. [Reference: Atmosphere is the layer of gas accreted around a mass with sufficient gravity.]
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Radiation: Space has significantly higher levels of harmful radiation than most atmospheres. Earth's atmosphere protects us from much of this radiation. [Reference: The three major differences are: atmosphere (vacuum in space), radiation (high level of dangerous particles), and gravity (weightlessness in )]
The Boundary:
There isn't a sharply defined boundary between space and an atmosphere. Instead, the atmosphere gradually thins out as altitude increases, becoming increasingly less dense until it blends into the vacuum of space. The Kármán line, at an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles), is often used as a conventional boundary for practical purposes, such as aerospace definitions.
