If nothing else changed, an increase in the carbon dioxide content ofthe atmosphere would cause its?

Question

a. temperature to increase
b. temperature to decrease
c. pressure to increase
d. pressure to decrease

Answer 1

The correct answer is C due to the ideal gas law, which states that PV=nRT.

We know that A is not correct because adding CO2 does not increase the temperature. B is incorrect for the same reason. D is incorrect since the volume of the atmosphere is not changed, the pressure would go up. The ideal gas law states that since the volume is not changed and more moles of a gas are added, the pressure would increase, which makes C the correct answer.

Answer 2

The premise of the question is a little unclear - the atmosphere is a sufficiently complex system so that by changing CO2 concentration, you will inevitable change other "background" factors to the point where you can't really say "nothing else changed". For example, increasing CO2 may increase or decrease other boundary conditions like plant cover. Also, the effects of CO2 increase aren't fixed in time - it could cause an initial temperature or pressure change, but then be compensated for by other effects.

Also, a previous responder spoke only in terms of the ideal gas law. That's not really an accurate way of thinking of this problem, since the radiative characteristics of CO2 are far more important to the question you're asking than its pure thermodynamic characteristics.

Answer 3

Temperature to increase (Global Warming)