Debunking the Myth: Does 1 Cubic Meter of Air Really Weigh 1kg?

[quantum123]

Does 1 metre cube of air really weigh 1kg?
This is so hard to believe. So heavy?

 

[ProtossHeat]

if it was air in a 1 metre cube balloon, it would appear to be of no/low weight on Earth because it's surrounded by air. if you bring that same balloon to the moon, you will feel the weight.

consider that mass and weight are not used the same way and have different definitions

 

[ProtossHeat]

well, if you bring it to an earth-sized planet with no atmostphere*

 

[quantum123]

I get you. Thanks!
The upthrust is equal to the weight of the air itself.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Right. It's also not quite a kilogram. Looks to be about 650 g.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density_of_air, says that the density of air, at 15 degrees Celcius and one atmosphere pressure, is 1.29 kg per cubic meter.

 

[Vanadium 50]

My bad. Nitrogen is diatomic. (Smacking forehead)

 

[russ_watters]

So physicist calculate while engineers and mathematicians look it up on the wiki...?