How does the atmosphere protect us from the vacuum of space?

The atmosphere protects the Earth from the vacuum. The gasses and pressure of the atmosphere allow living organisms to breathe. The atmosphere also prevents water from vaporizing into space. Without the atmosphere, there would be no life on the Earth.

Does vacuum mean empty space?

A vacuum is an empty place, which space nearly achieves. But the vacuum of space is the opposite. By definition, a vacuum is devoid of matter. Space is almost an absolute vacuum, not because of suction but because it’s nearly empty.

Why is the vacuum in space different from the atmosphere?

The vacuum in space however is different, it is purely absense of matter due to absence of gravity. The earth’s atmosphere is bound to Earth due to its gravity, and hence the air pressure, the difference in which create the suction.

Why doesn’t the air in space leave the planet?

The air, for the most part, isn’t leaving the planet for the same reason the water isn’t flying out of the ocean, gravity is holding it down. It’s important to remember that space doesn’t suck. It’s not that kind of vacuum. There is not a force pulling things into space in the same way there is not a force pulling air out of a hole in a balloon.

Why is gravity stronger than the vacuum of space?

Actually, the answer to this is interesting. While gravity is most certainly a real thing, the answer to this question is not “because gravity is stronger”. The actual answer is that the vacuum of space does not exert any force on the atmosphere at all. It does not “suck” the air.

What would happen if the Earth’s atmosphere was sucked into space?

All there is in space is molecules traveling through the vacuum. You can see that there is no danger of the vacuum sucking our atmosphere away, but it turns out there is another force that could strip away our atmosphere. That force is called the solar wind. Fortunately, the atmosphere is protected from the solar wind by the Earth’s magnetic field.