Can you weigh smoke?

Question

The best answer I've had is if you 'burn a log, weigh the ash and subtract that from the weight of the unburnt log'. Seems a bit unpredictable.
Can anything have negative weight? If air has a weight of Zero, then anything lighter than air must have a negative weight? And since Butane gas is heavier than air, does it then have a weight?
Any related information on this topic would be appreciated. Thanks everyone.

Answer 1

SMOKE is a suspension in air (aerosol) of small particles resulting from incomplete combustion of a fuel. So it has a weight.

THERE IS NOTHING AS NEGATIVE WEIGHT.

First you have to understand the LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MASS.

Since in ordinary chemical reactions like burning of logs MASS IS ALWAYS CONSERVED (with the exception of nuclear reactions)

I think the first answerer does not know that weifhing of gases in not done with help of ORDINARY weighing machines but done with very sensitive balances like TORSION BALANCES.

On such accurate balances you are able to measure weights for gases. AIR DEFINITELY HAS SOME POSITIVE WEIGHT.

ANY SUBSTANCE (excepting some sub nuclear particles) POSSESS SOME DEFINITE WEIGHT.

The log burning example is correct too.
Since its difficult to weigh gases on ordinary balances the method mentioned by you is used.
Since Mass is conserved, this method will give approximate weight of the smoke evolved but you have to know the weight of Oxygen consumed too.

Thats why this experiment has to be carried out in a controlled environment i.e. to say measured volume of oxygen is to be released.

Answer 2

I can't believe someone actually answered the question with an answer on smoking!!!
Yes, there is such a thing as negative weight. Weight is a force. Before you kill me, I must say - there is no such thing as negative MASS.
weight and mass are not the same thing. Weighing a gas is simple enough. Take a beam balance, standard masses, then measure the mass of a container, then capture the smoke in it, weigh it again. Mass of smoke=Mass of container+smoke-mass of container.
If you want the weight, then use F=ma, ie Weight = Mg

Answer 3

It is very difficult to "weigh" gases because of the large volume they take up in space which results in uplift.

Unless the burning is done on a large scale, otherwise, the weight would be too small to cause an effect on the weighing machine

The so-called best answer does not give the weight of the gas because the mass lost could be in the form of heat and light energy.

The best way to find out the weight of gas is through calculations.
(I said gas instead of smoke because smoke consist of solid and gas particles which is not possible to calculate)

Answer 4

In a controlled environment, you may be able to get a very close approximation. Imagine that you are burning a log. Put that log in a closed box (well, it does need some oxygen supply) and vent all the smoke into an initially evacuated chamber. When your experiment is done, you can weight the chamber with the gas inside, subtract the weight of the evacuated chamber, and that may give you a rough approximation of the weight of the smoke. Of course, it would be hard to make sure none of the excess oxygen found its way into the chamber, but... this should be close.

Answer 5

all materials have weight. weight of air is not zero. if you have perfect vacuum it has 0 weight. there is nothing like negative weight. your confusion is understandable because if you are trying to weigh something lighter than air , it will float and upward force means negative. but remember that you are weighing it in air which is not the accurate thing to do. you have to measure the weigh in a perfectly evacuated chamber. then things even lighter than air will be pulled down.

smoke is carbon particles suspended in air. so by weight of smoke should mean the combined weight of air and suspended particles. best thing to do is to collect the smoke in a container(may be a balloon) and weigh it, then subtract the weight of balloon from it. all weighing being done in vacuum.

weighing log wont work

log + oxygen in air + other components in air = ash + smoke
(here i have assumed that the smoke formed contain carbon particles, other components in air and any excess unused oxygen)

so to find the weight of smoke you should subtract the weight of ash from the weight of log and the air used to burn it(which is again difficult)

Answer 6

Well, you could be right about the trying to impress man thing. Survival of the fitest is programmed into our brains as a primal instinct. The need to reproduce and to be the best mate out of a "line up" generally makes everyone try harder to impress the opposite sex. Given that homosexuals won't end up reproducing, they could just not have that "program running". The other part of it could be why they chose the same sex. The opposite sex could have treated them poorly, I.e. bashing on them constantly, making fun of them, and eventually cheating on them so they could feel that there isn't a point to trying to look good anymore. The mindset could have also been brought in by upbringing and family.

Answer 7

smoke consists of carbon particles, and other gaseous products. Strictly speaking it has to have weight.The technique has to have very good accuracy[10^-9gm] since weight will be a very small quantity. also we have to have perfect vacuum technology to remove gases occupying the space before we introduce smoke in to it.

Answer 8

a common experience for people to gain weight when they quit smoking for a number of reasons.

Although nicotine has proved to suppress appetite and cigarettes often replace food. Smoking is also said to increase the heart rate, thereby slightly increasing metabolism.

These are some of the reasons why people trying to give up smoking, gain weight while doing so.

However, on a more positive note, research has shown that people who give up smoking are able to maintain their original weight as long as they eat healthily and exercise.

Ensure that you follow a nutritionally balanced eating plan.
- To help boost your metabolic rate, you should try and exercise daily.
- Try and divide your meals into six smaller meals instead of three. People often find that they can control their appetite better when eating smaller meals.
- Always have balanced meals, ie: your meals must consist of foods from the different food groups. Combining foods in this way also help regulate blood sugar levels and appetite.
- Never skip meals.
With winter fast approaching, so are colds and flu.
Colds and flu hinder daily activities and render you unproductive – something few of us can afford.
Follow our basic guidelines to help you prevent the onset of the dreaded runny nose, sore throat, coughing and watering eyes.

etc---