2006-09-21 04:30:39 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
the atmosphere becomes thinner as the amount of air decreases
2006-09-21 04:33:32 · answer #1 · answered by raj 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Imagine a tile at the bottom of a swimming pool in your neighborhood. The water pressure on it is the weight of the volume of water directly on top it. On the surface of the pool there's zero water pressure because there's no volume of water directly above it. But there is still pressure on the surface. That's called atmospheric pressure or what you call in your question air pressure. That air pressure is the weight of the volume of air directly on top of the pool. Now if that pool were on top of a mountain the air pressure will decrease. Why? Because on top of the mountain there will be less volume of air directly above the pool
Remember that whether it's water pressure or air pressure, the higher you go up, the lesser will be its magnitude. The reason for this is as explained above.
2006-09-21 04:54:48 · answer #2 · answered by tul b 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Air pressure in the atmosphere is basically a measure of the weight of the air above you. When measuring pounds per square inch, this is really as if you had a column of air, one inch square, extending all the way to the top of the atmosphere. What would it weigh?
As you go higher, you're closer to the top of the atmosphere. And thus, the air still above you weighs less because there is less of it.
2006-09-21 04:39:05 · answer #3 · answered by jplrvflyer 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because there is less air (atmosphere) OVER you. Imagine air pressure as being the weight of the column of air above you. The higher you go, the less air you have pushing down on you.
2006-09-21 04:34:12 · answer #4 · answered by andalucia 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Air actually is heavy (it has mass) which is affected by gravity and therefore 'collects' in lower lying regions. The higher up air 'sits' on the lower air, compressing it but the higher air has little above it so it at a lower pressure
2006-09-21 04:34:11 · answer #5 · answered by bobbles22uk 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is all sorts of physics and equations to explain it, but I like to think of it like this...
Air has weight (less than most other things around us, but weight non-the-less.
Air pressure is the weight of the air above you weighing down on you.
As you get higher, there is less air above you weighing down on you because the atmosphere is only so thick.
2006-09-21 04:35:19 · answer #6 · answered by Robin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pressure is the weight of air above you.
2006-09-21 06:37:04 · answer #7 · answered by Rajesh Kochhar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because there is less oxygen theirfore less molecules in the air and you are farther and farther above sea level as you go.
2006-09-21 04:38:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because heavier air pushes its way through to the bottom.
2006-09-21 04:33:16 · answer #9 · answered by Ranto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no clue but go on ask.com and try the link below
I hope this helps - good luck x 1 x
2006-09-21 04:39:17 · answer #10 · answered by Sweetie Pie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋