2006-09-03 01:49:20 · 13 answers · asked by ??? 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
At higher altitudes, the air is thinner (less dense). This is why you have to breathe harder. Your heart also has to beat faster to keep up with your oxygen needs.
Temperature drops because of several reasons. Primarily: The temperature that you feel is a result of the sun heating the air. If there is less air, then logically there is less heat.
Gravity does not change at higher altitudes (despite what previous posts tell you). It's the weight of the air column - the air above you - that determines air density.
2006-09-03 01:59:36 · answer #1 · answered by Moose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The density of the atmosphere is less, therefore there are few oxygen molecules, and indeed all of the gases. On Mount Everest the boiling point of water is reduced to 79 degree centigrade but at sea level it is 100 degrees centigrade, and the water is able to boil because the weight of the air is reduced. Similar is the temperature inversion, for each 1000 feet you ascend there is a temperature decrease of about 2 degrees F. so at our base camp on Everest when the ambient temperature was 40 degrees, we expected to encounter temperature of about 58 degrees below that. The reason being there are few atoms or molecules whizzing around. Believe me it is hard to breathe and it is very cold.
2006-09-03 09:02:48 · answer #2 · answered by Frank 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heat is a measure of molecular motion. It requires a medium. Because gravity concentrates the air closer to the Earth's surface, the air is thinner at higher altitudes, and as a result is incapable of holding the same quantity of heat as denser air.
2006-09-03 08:57:12 · answer #3 · answered by kreevich 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pressure of air depends upon the height to which the atmosphere is present.
As the altitude increases, the total height of atmosphere decreases.
Therefore the pressure of air decreases. The density of air decreases. Therefore we don’t get enough oxygen from the given volume of air.
Therefore we feel difficult to breath.
From Boyles law PV/ T = constant. Therefore temperature decreases when the pressure decreases.
2006-09-03 12:11:47 · answer #4 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At higher altitudes there isn't as much oxygen in the air, hence we start gasping to take in oxygen. Laymen say the earth gets thinner, which also allows heat to escape - or something like that.
2006-09-03 08:53:38 · answer #5 · answered by cymry3jones 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
High altitude means less oxygen in the air to breath. Less oxygen means less absorption of radiation leading to a decrease in temperature.
2006-09-03 09:00:45 · answer #6 · answered by The One 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shortage of Oxygen. Air at high altitude get cool faster.
2006-09-03 08:52:44 · answer #7 · answered by Arun D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because there is less pressure higher up, the oxygen molecules in the air are not as concentrated (not packed together as much), and your body struggles to get enough of them- its similar to, say, trying to get the flavour from a watery sauce. the temperature drops because the mountain rises above the insulating layers of gas and water keeping the ground warm like a quilt
2006-09-03 08:57:19 · answer #8 · answered by stephizzal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a hike and see for yourself, the air gets thinner the higher you go
2006-09-03 08:55:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
theres thinner air and less oxygen the higher you go, thus making the lungs work harder to breath
2006-09-03 08:56:41 · answer #10 · answered by tiffany a 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋