Final answer:
To estimate the mass of air in a classroom, multiply the room's volume by the air's density, which is roughly 1.25 kg/m³. A typical classroom with an estimated volume of 50 m³ would contain approximately 62.5 kg of air, making the closest estimate 100 kg.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mass of air in a classroom can be estimated using the given information. According to Figure 12.1, the mass of a cubic meter of air is 1.25 kg, and the mass of atmosphere over one square meter is approximately 10 metric tons. So, the mass of air in the classroom would be between these values. Hence, the estimate for the mass of air in a classroom is d) 10000 kg.
To estimate the mass of air in a classroom, we can use the reference information that the density of air at room temperature and atmospheric pressure is approximately 1.25 kg/m³. For instance, if we consider a typical classroom to be around 50 m³ (a room of roughly 7 meters by 7 meters with a ceiling height of about 3 meters), we can calculate the mass of air by multiplying the volume of the room by the density of the air.
M = density × volume = 1.25 kg/m³ × 50 m³ = 62.5 kg.
Therefore, the closest estimate to the mass of air in a classroom from the given options would be (b) 100 kg, acknowledging that the actual mass can vary based on the exact dimensions and conditions of the classroom.