Estimate the thickness of the Earth's atmosphere. From your chemistry class, you know that the most common speed of a nitrogen molecule is 640 m/s. The molecules' velocity is pointed along random directions, but some molecules head straight up; i.e. directly away from the Earth's center. Consider the thickness of the atmosphere as the highest point that such a nitrogen molecule can fly to, if it goes straight up. What is the altitude?
= .................... m ?