A 1.6 kg ball is at rest on the floor in a 2.4 m ? 2.4 m ? 2.4 m room of air at STP. Air is 80% nitrogen (N2) and 20% oxygen (O2) by volume.
(a) What is the thermal energy of the air in the room?
J
(b) What fraction of the thermal energy would have to be conveyed to the ball for it to be spontaneously launched to a height of 1.8 m?
(c) By how much would the air temperature have to decrease to lauch the ball?
K
(d) Your answer to part c is so small as to be unnoticeable, yet this event never happens. Why not?