Helium in the Atmosphere


In the earth there are radioactive compounds such as uranium compounds that are gradually decaying. As they decay, they give off alpha particles that travel just a few millimetres before they steal electrons from other atoms and form helium molecules He2 .This means that helium gas is building up in the atmosphere.

Helium is a gas at all temperatures found on Earth so it is not removed from the atmosphere by forming a liquid or a solid.

Helium is an inert gas so it is not removed from the atmosphere by reacting chemically with any other element or compound found on Earth.

This presents yet another inconvenient truth for evolutionists as we have a clock running to help as see how old the atmosphere is. If you look in a scientific encyclopaedia it will say that there should be millions of times the quantity of helium in the atmosphere as currently exists there. To overcome this problem (to them) they say that elementary mechanics shows that helium is lost from the atmosphere to outer space. Well we shall see by checking out the elementary mechanics.

The force between two bodies, the Earth of mass M and and another body of mass m is

F = -(GMm)/x2 where G is the universal gravitational constant and x is the distance between their centres. It is negative because the force is trying to decrease x, not increase it.

On the surface of the Earth, x=r the radius of the Earth

and F = -gm where g is 10 m/s2

Put this in the equation to give

-gm = -(GMm)/r2

giving GM = gr2

This gives us a simpler way of writing our first equation

F = -(gr2m)/x2

As the force on an object is its mass times its acceleration we can now write this as

ma = -(gr2m)/x2

which lets us divide by m to give

a = -(gr2)/x2

As a check put x = r in this equation to give a = -g the acceleration at the surface of the Earth.

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity a = dv/dt

Put this in our equation and we have

dv/dt = -(gr2)/x2 or better

= -(gr2)/x2

= -(gr2)/x2

Velocity is the rate of change of distance x so v = dx/dt giving

. v = -(gr2)/x2

multiply each side by dx to give

v.dv= -gr2x-2 .dx

integrate each side to give

½v2 = gr2x-1 + c where c is the constant of integration.

We are wanting to calculate the escape velocity of an object from the top of the atmosphere so let v = u the initial velocity at an altitude a so x = r + a

Put this in our equation in order to evaluate c

½u2 = gr2(r+a)-1 + c

giving

c = ½u2 - gr2(r+a)-1

So our equation of motion is

½v2 = gr2x-1 + ½u2 - gr2(r+a)-1

If an object is to escape the earth's gravitational field then it will have to stop an infinite distance from the Earth so v = 0 at x =giving

0 = 0 + ½u2 - gr2(r+a)-1

u2 = 2gr2/(r+a)

Note this can only be used to calculate the escape velocity at the top edge of the atmosphere or beyond. At lower altitudes you also have to take in to account air resistance.

The radius of the Earth r = 6371 Km, so r+a = 6571 Km

g = 9.8 m/s2 = 0.0098 Km/s2 Put tis in our equation above giving

u2 = 2x0.0098x63712/6571 Km2/s2

u2 = 123 Km2/s2

u = 11.1 Km/s

So the escape velocity at an altitude of 200 km above the Earth is 11.1 Km/sec

The root mean square velocity of a gas molecule is calculated from




where the molar gas constant R = 8.314 J/(mol K) = 8.314 Kg.m2/s2/(mol K)

and M is the molar mass which for helium, M = 4 gm / mol = 0.004 Kg / mol

At the top edge of the atmosphere, the absolute temperature T = 347 K

Put these in the formula to get the root mean square velocity of helium at the top of our atmosphere

vrms =

= 1470 m/s

= 1.47 Km/s

You can see the this is much less than the required 11Km/sec.

If you look at websites you will find many deriding this concept. They say that the top of the atmosphere is very hot so the helium molecules travel much faster.

If you take an absolute temperature of T = 10000C = 1273K much hotter than they claim you will find the vrms = 2.8 Km/sec which is still much lower than the required 11Km/sec.

The evolutionary scientists will not show calculations to prove their criticisms because they cant.

In the last case T = 10000C = 1273K

the velocities of the helium molecules would be spread over a range of 0 to 5.6 Km/sec with a very very small proportion over 3.5 Km/sec

So only a very small proportion of helium gas escapes the Earth's gravitational field. The present concentration of helium gas in the atmosphere would have been accumulated in well under 20,000 years.

Science shows that the Earth cannot be old enough for evolution to have occured.

This presents a very serious inconvenient truth for evolutionists.

20 years ago I presented this to a colleague (with a PhD in nuclear physics) in the science department. He could not refute the argument. He used to be quite friendly but after this he would only speak to me about matters involving the Polytechnic.

Romans 1:18-25 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. 21 Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
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