How Fast Do Air Molecules Move and How Many Are There?

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In summary, air molecules are constantly zipping around us at a speed of 2,000 miles per hour, even faster than a speeding bullet. This was highlighted in an article about entropy and the quest to understand the behavior of particles. It's interesting to think about the incredible speeds of particles in things like fusion reactors and the LHC, and how such tiny molecules can exert a force of 14.4 pounds per square inch due to their momentum.
  • #1
pallidin
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"As you read these words, the air’s molecules are *zipping around you at 2,000 miles per hour, faster than a speeding bullet, and bombarding you from all sides."

Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=demons-entropy-and-the-quest

That article is a link here on PF. Anyway, found it interesting. Didn't know that air molecules go that fast.
 
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  • #2
Yep. Just think of the velocities of something like an ionized plasma inside a Fusion Reactor at a million degrees. Thats REALLY fast. Or the LHC protons...now THAT is some serious speed. 99.9999% the speed of light or something like that? Crazy...and awesome.
 
  • #3
Hi Pallidin. Each air molecule only weighs around 0.00000000000000000000005 grams (0.0000000000000000000000017 onces). Can you image how fast they must be traveling and how many of them there must be to exert a force of 14.4 pounds for every square inch of surface they contact!. This force being due solely to the change in momentum as they bounce off that surface.
 

FAQ: How Fast Do Air Molecules Move and How Many Are There?

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