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/sci/ - Science & Math

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8279843 No.8279843 [Reply] [Original]

>kinetic energy of molecules is governed by the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution
>oil doesn't spontaneously combust despite some of the molecules being very hot

>> No.8279856

science is dumb dw

>> No.8279988

>>8279843
You clearly need to pay more attention in thermo 101. Even if a single molecule were as hot as the surface of the sun, it would not carry enough energy to initiate the chain reaction of combustion.

Actually, what would happen is that molecule would escape as evaporation, see the Clausius-Claperyon relation.

>> No.8280027

>it's an "the simplified models I was taught in high school don't accurately predict nature in fringe cases" episode

>> No.8280033

>>8279843
Heat is a concept only applicable to large numbers of molecules. One molecule cannot be hot, that is just something people say to make the connection between average kinetic energy and heat obvious

>> No.8280050
File: 177 KB, 1000x725, oily_rags[1].jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
8280050

>>8279843
>I guess it's perfectly fine to leave this pile of oily rags out

>> No.8280052

>>8280027

>> No.8280054
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8280054

>>8280050
>o shit

>> No.8280056
File: 150 KB, 640x364, vesta-house-fire-c-04142014[1].jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
8280056

>>8280054
>FUCK

http://koin.com/2014/04/14/large-fire-sw-vesta-portland/
>PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oily rags left on a back deck apparently spontaneously combusted and set one house on fire, which then set the second house ablaze.

>> No.8280154
File: 68 KB, 310x338, 1405953391637.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
8280154

>>8280050
>>8280054
>>8280056
wh-what did you do?

>> No.8280198

>>8280154
So it would seem the theory is more accurate than OP predicted.