An object moving faster than the earth's escape velocity (about 11 km/s) has enough energy to escape the pull of the earth's gravity. Which of the following gas molecules would be most likely to be moving at a speed high enough to escape the earth's atmosphere? A. Carbon Dioxide
B. Oxygen
C. Nitrogen
D. Water vapor
E. Hydrogen

The gas that is most likely to attain a speed greater than the earth's escape velocity is hydrogen.

The root - mean - square velocity of a gas depends on the temperature as well as the molar mass of the gas. We are told that the escape velocity of the earth is  11 km/s.

The gas that will move at such speed must be a very light gas. Hence the gas that is most likely to attain a speed greater than the earth's escape velocity is hydrogen.

Learn more about escape velocity: link

E. Hydrogen

Explanation:

It is important to note that since Hydrogen is categorized as the lightest known element in the universe today. It is therefore the only gas molecules among the listed option that would be most likely be moving at a speed high enough to escape the earth's atmosphere.

Because Hydrogen has just a single proton and a single electron this makes it easy to acquire enough energy to pull the earth's gravity.

pythagoras' theorem

square root (-5^2+9^2)

square root (25+81)

square root (106)

angle is tan^-1(9/5)

neg x, pos y