Keep your dreams of space travel alive! (My 4-years-old son is a space nut right
ID: 914316 • Letter: K
Question
Keep your dreams of space travel alive! (My 4-years-old son is a space nut right now.) NASA is developing the capabilities needed yo send humans to an asteroid by 2025 and Mars in the 2030s (NASA Autthorization Act of 2010 and the U.S . National Space Policy of 2010, www.nasa.gov). First, let's leam something about the martian atmosphere. Consider the following properties of the atmosphere of Mars, as measured by the Mars Rover: Average surface pressure: 6.1 mbar Average temperature: 210K Atmospheric composition (by volume %): Carbon dioxide = 35.32 Nitrogen = 2.7 Argon = 1.6 Oxygen = 0.13 Carbon monoxide = 0.08 Calculate the following about the Martian atmosphere: What's the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, P_A, in units of Pa What is the molar concentration of carbon dioxide, C_A What is the total molar concentration of all the gasses What is the total mass concentration of all the gasses Compared to earth's atmosphere (such as those calculate done for in class exercise) on how human may be able to survive on Mars.Explanation / Answer
Total pressure = 6.1*10-3 bar =6.1*10-3*105 Pa= 610 Pa =0.00602 atm (1 atm =101.325 Kpa)
Volume percentage of CO2= 0.9532 = mole fraction
a)Partial pressure of CO2= Mole fraction*total pressure = 0.9532*610=581.45 bar
b) Molar concentration of CO2= Partial pressure of CO2/RT=( 581.45/101.325*1000) atm /(0.08206*210)=0.00033 moles/L
c)from PV= nRT P= 0.00622 atm n/V =concentration R=0.08206 L.atm/mole.K T=210k
Concentration= P/RT= 0.00602/(0.08206*210)=0.00035 moles/L
d)Molecular weight = Sum of the product of mole fraction* Molecular wegh
Molecular weight of gas =0.9732*44+2.7*28/100+ 40*1.6/100+ 28*2.7/100+ 40*1.6/100 +28*0.08/100=45.63
From PV= nRT, PV= ( mass/molecular weght)*RT, P* Molecular weight = (Mass/volume)*RT
P* molecular weight= mass concentration*RT
Mass concentration = 0.00602*45.63/(0.08206*210) gm/L =0.01594 g/L
e)It is difficult for any body to survive since oxygen percentage is 0.13% which is very low.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.