Why doesn't the sky fall?

[John Ferrell]

That probably explains why I smell it so fast when somone lights a match in the house.

BTW, I don't think there is an "air molecule", it is a gas mixture and it is packed rel tight on the bottom. Half of the atmosphere is below 18,000 feet. 

John Ferrell    
http://DixieNC.US

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: randy10926 at comcast.net 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 5:22 PM
  Subject: Re: Why doesn't the sky fall?


  Air molecules are never at rest. They undergo constant random thermal motions of a variety of types. The simplest type is that of uniform translation. The mean speed is about 500 m/s which is greater than the speed of sound (340 m/s). 

  Randy

    -------------- Original message -------------- 

    I thought it was time to stir the pot while we wait for the results from the Worlds.
    Can anyone explain why gravity doesn't pull all the air molecules down to earth?  Are they lighter than space?  What is their mean speed?
    I don't think this will help answer the weathervaning question and won't help us fly any better but I thought it might be fun.
    Jim O
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