Friday Feb. 16, 2007
The
surface of the earth is largely made up of
water (oceans) and soil. Water has a larger specific heat (heat
capacity) than soil. Oceans are slow to warm in the summer and
slow to cool during the winter.
Oceans moderate the climate. The city above on the
coast has a 30o F annual range of temperature. The
city further
inland (assumed to be at the same latitude and altitude) has an annual
range of 60o F. Note that both cities have the same 60o
F annual
mean temperature.
The acetic acid would begin to evaporate into the
air. Collisions with air molecules would begin to move the acetic
acid molecules toward the back of the room.
The strong irritating odor of the acetic acid would make it
difficult
to breath at the front of the room.
The odor would eventually spread throughout the class
room. This is an example of diffusion. Because it involves
random molecular motions it is, in many respects, like the conduction
of
heat.