What is the reason for a smell delay of the gas?
2006-08-06 22:40:11 · 11 answers · asked by Jorgia M. 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The sound is traveling at 1740 ft/sec.....much faster that the gas!
2006-08-06 22:45:45 · answer #1 · answered by old dude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Natural gas is naturally odorless. An additive is put into gas in order to give it a scent so that people can detect gas leaks. When you first open the valve you are hearing the escape of compressed air. You don't actually smell the gas additive until actual gas is escaping.
2006-08-07 05:45:03 · answer #2 · answered by zaffaris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gases like the one you're mentioning have no odor, odor is added to fell in case of a gas escape. Because the gas particles are not as heavy as the odor ones once you have opened the valve the gas particles moves faster that the added particles of odor because these are heavier than the gas an takes a several time to get in the air to be fell.
2006-08-07 05:53:00 · answer #3 · answered by Javy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the valve is opened, the rushing gas compress and rarefy the air surrounding the gas.
This compression and rarefication of air ( not gas ) is called sound and it is transmitted with the speed of sound in air which is 330m/s.
Thus the sound reaches first.
The gas by a slow process called diffusion is sensed by nose lately.
2006-08-07 07:52:13 · answer #4 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before any smell is registered, have u thought how it propogates?it actually travels by diffusion. which is much slower than wave propogation.
When u hear a sound, it's waves actually travel in a straight line path all around the source, unlike gas molecules, which go where the medium, ie air, molecules take them, ie they don't travel in a straight line path, moving in a zigzag way randomly. Also consider the speed difference, and u have the perfect answer.
2006-08-07 06:29:38 · answer #5 · answered by uv 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sound travels faster than smell hence the delay .Like thunder and lightening you see light first followed by sound after much delay for light travel faster than sound.You are a scientist in the making thinking on good line .Keep it up.
2006-08-07 05:50:37 · answer #6 · answered by sumant b 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Natural gas or propane has concentrated garlic added to it, in order for it to be smelled by people. Natural gas or propane is heavier than air, so it drops to the ground and slowly rises as the volume increases, until the level of the gas reaches your nose and you are able to smell it.
2006-08-07 05:48:29 · answer #7 · answered by 420Linda 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the molecules of the air opposes the motion of the molecules of the gas.
2006-08-07 06:23:26 · answer #8 · answered by meno25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on which direction the wind is blowing. and i guess the smell is quite mild to begin with so u need a certain amt to accummulate before it becomes obvious
2006-08-07 05:47:41 · answer #9 · answered by newfangled_04 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
May be you have a sharp ear and a blocked nose!!
2006-08-07 07:40:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋