A typical molecule of gas in the air has a mass of and moves at
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A typical molecule of gas in the air has a mass of 4.8×10−26 kg and moves at 500 ms−1. If such a molecule collides with, and rebounds elastically from, a flat surface,
(1) calculate the impulse felt by the molecule.
(2) state the impulse felt by the flat surface.
(3) if 2.1×1027 molecules collide with, and bounce off, 1 m2 of the surface every second, calculate the pressure that the air exerts on the surface.