4 PROBLEMSthey cannotincrease the total energy of the molecules in the cabin, and
therefore it makes no sense to continue putting logs into the stove. The
engineer strongly disagrees (see Figure P.4.1), referring to the laws of ther-
modynamics and common sense. Who is right? Why do we heat the room?Space Station Pressure (MIT)
A space station consists of a large cylinder of radius filled with air. The
cylinder spins about its symmetry axis at an angular speed providing an
acceleration at the rim equal to If the temperature is constant inside
the station, what is the ratio of air pressure at the center of the station
to the pressure at the rim?4.3 Baron von Münchausen and Intergalactic Travel
(Moscow Phys-Tech)
Recently found archives of the late Baron von Münchausen brought to light
some unpublished scientific papers. In one of them, his calculations indi-
cated that the Sun’s energy would some day be exhausted, with the sub-
sequent freezing of the Earth and its inhabitants. In order to avert this
inevitable outcome, he proposed the construction of a large, rigid balloon,
empty of all gases, 1 km in radius, and attached to the Earth by a long, light
4.2