During the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pelee in 1902, an incredibly hot "burning cloud" rolled down the mountain and incinerated the town of Saint-Pierre. From the damage done, the temperature in the cloud was estimated at 700°C. If the air temperature

was 20°C and a mole of air is 29 grams, estimate the molecular weight of the gas in the "burning cloud" that made it heavier than the surrounding air. (As a follow-on, estimate the most probable composition of the cloud. Some typical volcanic gases are H2S, SO2, H2SO4, CO2, NO.)


96, H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)

Physics & Space Science

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Which of the following statements about electrons is not true?

A) Electrons orbit the nucleus rather like planets orbiting the Sun. B) Within an atom, an electron can have only particular energies. C) An electron has a negative electrical charge. D) Electrons have little mass compared to protons or neutrons. E) Electrons can jump between energy levels in an atom only if they receive or give up an amount of energy equal to the difference in energy between the energy levels.

Physics & Space Science

A plane flies directly between two cities, A and B, which are separated by 2300 mi. From A to B, the plane flies into a 65 mi/h headwind. On the return trip from B to A, the wind velocity is unchanged

The trip from B to A takes less than the trip from A to B. What is the airspeed of the plane, assuming it is the same in both directions? A) 530 mi/h B) 400 mi/h C) 480 mi/h D) 610 mi/h

Physics & Space Science

In the geology, the term "Precambrian" refers to

A) the eon immediately preceding the Phanerozoic eon B) all eons preceding the Phanerozoic eon C) the eon immediately preceding the Proterozoic eon D) all eons preceding the Proterozoic eon

Physics & Space Science

An astronaut in a rocket moving with a speed v = 0.6c relative to Earth performs a collision experiment with two small steel balls and concludes the both momentum and energy are conserved. What would an Earth observer conclude?

A. only momentum is conserved B. only energy is conserved C. neither energy or momentum is conserved D. both energy and momentum are conserved

Physics & Space Science