If you have a 3 inch by 3 inch card sitting perpendicular on a table how much air does it push when it falls?
When a 3 inch by 3 inch card falls perpendicular to a table, it will displace a certain amount of air due to its movement. To calculate the amount of air displaced, we can use the principles of fluid dynamics.
To begin, we need to determine the volume of air displaced by the falling card. Since the card is falling vertically, we can assume that the volume of air displaced is equal to the volume of the card itself.
The volume of a rectangular object is calculated by multiplying its length, width, and height. In this case, since the card is very thin, we can assume that the height is negligible. Therefore, the volume of the card is calculated by multiplying its length and width.
Given that the card is 3 inches by 3 inches, the volume would be:
Volume = length × width
Volume = 3 inches × 3 inches
Volume = 9 square inches
However, since we are dealing with air, it is more convenient to work with the volume in cubic units. Thus, we need to convert square inches to cubic inches.
To convert square inches to cubic inches, we need to introduce the thickness or height of the object. Using reasonable assumptions, let's say the thickness of the card is 0.01 inches.
Now, we can calculate the volume in cubic inches:
Volume (cubic inches) = Volume (square inches) × Height
Volume (cubic inches) = 9 square inches × 0.01 inches
Volume (cubic inches) = 0.09 cubic inches
Hence, when the 3 inch by 3 inch card falls perpendicular to a table, it will displace approximately 0.09 cubic inches of air.