More or less correct Harry.
If I were to be pedantic, I would note that air has a density of 1.3 kg/m³ at standard temperature and pressure, not 1 kg/m³. Assuming that air is mainly Nitrogen (molecular weight 14+14=28) then CO2 (molecular weight = 12+16+16=44) has a density which is 44/28 times as heavy (approx 2 kg/m³). Your small gymnasium would therefore hold 60 tonnes of CO2, not 30. Regards Martin _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Harry Wyeth Sent: 10 November 2007 09:04 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:39699] Re: Metrication matters 54 We read a lot about the weight (I still like the term) of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere by various activities, e.g., xyz causes abc tons of CO2, etc. I have often wondered what physical volume this represents. I once asked a scientific presenter the question, and he had no idea and thought the question rather odd. But if one cubic meter of air weighs one kg, and CO2 is somewhat similar (I know it is heavier), then 10,000 tons (as reported in the US press) (4000 tonnes or metric tons) would fill a volume of 4,000,000 cu meters, or a cube of about 160 m on a side. Maybe the volume of a small gymnasium (50 x 30 x 20 m?) would be 30,000 cu m or 30,000 kg or 30 metric tons. Right, or did I drop or add a digit? HARRY WYETH
