A 1.0 kg ball is at rest on the floor in a 2.0 m × 2.0 m × 2.0 m room of air at STP. Air is 80% nitrogen (N₂) and 20% oxygen (O₂) by volume.
a. What is the thermal energy of the air in the room?
b. What fraction of the thermal energy would have to be conveyed to the ball for it to be spontaneously launched to a height of 1.0 m?
c. By how much would the air temperature have to decrease to launch the ball?
d. Your answer to part c is so small as to be unnoticeable, yet this event never happens. Why not?