assigned: 18 January 2002
due:
25 January 2002
1. Assume that a pressure difference of 5 hPa (mb) is suddenly
created between the weather station and the atmosphere just outside Walker
Building. What is the total force on one window pane? Assume
that Walker Building is air tight. What sudden temperature increase
in Walker Building could cause such a pressure increase? Can we assume
that the air density remains constant, as long as the windows remain intact?
Why?
2. Estimate the surface atmospheric pressure for Venus. The
surface temperature of Venus is 460 C due to the enhanced greenhouse effect.
The atmospheric density at the Venusian surface is about 0.07 grams/cm
3 and the atmospheric composition is mostly carbon dioxide.
3. Loschmidt's number is the number of molecules per cm3 at STP. Those of us who work in Atmospheric Chemistry use it all the time. Derive Loschmidt's number, starting with the Ideal Gas Law and Avagadro's Number.
4. Determine the height of barometer liquid for an atmospheric pressure of 980 hPa if the barometer liquid is (a) mercury; (b) water. For a mercury barometer, what is the height of the mercury column for an atmospheric pressure of 940 hPa if the atmospheric pressure inside the closed end of the tube is (c) a vacuum, or (d) 100 hPa of air? What is the percentage error in the pressure measurement that would be caused by 100 hPa of air in tube's closed end?
5. B&A Chapter 2, #4.
6. B&A Chapter 2, #11.
7. B&A, Chapter 2, #15.