Just as precise measurements are necessary for science, it is equally important to be able to make rough estimates of quantities using rudimentary ideas and common observations. Think of ways by which you can estimate the following (where an estimate is difficult to obtain, try to get an upper bound on the quantity) :

(a) the total mass of rain-bearing clouds over India during the Monsoon

(b) the mass of an elephant

(c) the wind speed during a storm

(d) the number of strands of hair on your head

(e) the number of air molecules in your classroom.

(a) The metrologist records 325 cm of rain, which is the height of the water column. h = 325 cm = 3.25 m

Area = 3.3 x 1012 m2

Volume of water = A x h = 3.25 x 3.3 x 1012 = 10.725 x 1012 m3

Density of water = 1 x 103 kg m-3

Therefore, the mass of rain water =  x V = 1 x 103 x 10.725 x 1012 = 10.725 x 1015 kg

Thus, the total mass of rain-bearing clouds is 10.725 x 1015 kg

(b) 

Let a known base area be floating in the sea. Let the depth of the sea be d1.

The volume of water displaced = A d1

Now measure the depth of the ship with an elephant onboard.

The volume of water displaced = A d2

From the above equations, the volume of water displaced by the elephant = A d– A d2

Water density = D

Elephant’s mass = AD(d2 – d1)

(c) Anemometer is used to measure the speed of the wind. As the wind blows, it rotates the anemometer and the number of rotations per second gives the wind speed.

(d) The surface area of the head = A

Let r be the radius

Area of one hair = r2

Number of strands of hair = Total surface areaArea of one hair=Ar2

(e) Let V be the volume of the room

In mole, the number of molecules = 6.023 x 1023

One mole of air = 22.4 x 10-3 m3 volume

Number of molecules in room = 6.023×102322.4×10-3=134.915×1026