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The weight of 1m³ of air is approximately 1.3 x 10³ g. Suppose that the volume of air inside of a building is 3 x 10^6 m³. How much does the air inside the building weigh?

User AV Paul
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Final answer:

The weight of the air inside a building with a volume of 3 x 10¶ m³ is calculated by multiplying the weight of 1m³ of air (1.28 kg) by the volume. The total weight of the air is 3.84 x 10¶ kg, illustrating that air has significant mass despite often being perceived as weightless.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the weight of the air inside the building, we use the given density of air and multiply it by the volume of the building. The weight of 1m³ of air is approximately 1.28 kg. With the volume of the air inside the building being 3 x 10¶ m³, we perform the following calculation:

(Weight of 1m³ of air) x (Volume of air inside the building) = (1.28 kg) x (3 x 10¶ m³) = 3.84 x 10¶ kg

This shows that the air inside the building has a considerable mass, which might be surprising considering air is often perceived as weightless. Additionally, it's important to consider that air's density can change with altitude, as a cubic meter of air weighs less at higher altitudes due to decreasing air pressure and density.

In practical terms, it is difficult to perceive air pressure without proper instrumentation, however, it plays a crucial role in different phenomena such as weather patterns and the necessity for oxygen tanks at high altitudes.

User Patrik Simek
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