What would be the effect on the concentration of atmospheric CO2 in 1 year if 1 billion (1X10^9) cars each burned 1000 gal of gas during that year? (Note: There is a current concentration of atmospheric CO2. We want to figure out what the concentration would become after the billion cars ran for that year?)
- Assume that gasoline is octane (C8H18)
- Assume that the earth is a smooth sphere with a radius of 4000 miles
- Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 lbs/in^2, i.e. the weight of the atmosphere is 14.7 lbs on every square inch of the earth
- The area of a sphere = 4*Pie*(Radius)^2 (4 times pie times (radius) squared)
- 1 lb = 454 grams
- 1 gallon = 4 qts
- 1 qt = ~1.1 L
- The density of octane is ~0.7 g/mL
- The current concentration of atmospheric CO2 is 400 ppm (parts per million)
- 1 ppm = 0.0001%
I don't really expect anyone to be able to solve this, it was given as an extra credit question for my General Chemistry II class. If there are any chem wizards out there that think they can actually solve this, please show as much work as you can. Thanks.
- Assume that gasoline is octane (C8H18)
- Assume that the earth is a smooth sphere with a radius of 4000 miles
- Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 lbs/in^2, i.e. the weight of the atmosphere is 14.7 lbs on every square inch of the earth
- The area of a sphere = 4*Pie*(Radius)^2 (4 times pie times (radius) squared)
- 1 lb = 454 grams
- 1 gallon = 4 qts
- 1 qt = ~1.1 L
- The density of octane is ~0.7 g/mL
- The current concentration of atmospheric CO2 is 400 ppm (parts per million)
- 1 ppm = 0.0001%
I don't really expect anyone to be able to solve this, it was given as an extra credit question for my General Chemistry II class. If there are any chem wizards out there that think they can actually solve this, please show as much work as you can. Thanks.