Atmospheric Pressure

Cards (3)

  • What is atmospheric pressure caused by?
    When air molecules collide with surfaces
  • When does atmospheric pressure decrease?
    As height above a surface increases because
    1.) Fewer air molecules in total above the surface as height increases, so the wight of air above the surface decreases
    2.) Density of the atmosphere decreases with altitude, so there are fewer air molecules per cubic metre
  • Atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing altitude because there is less weight of air above the surface