Question

Which statement accurately describes why air pressure decreases as altitude increases? As you increase altitude the temperature difference between the layers of the atmosphere causes extreme winds and the air pressure in turn decreases. As you increase altitude, the air particles move around much more quickly because they have to travel further distances which decreases their pressure. As you increase altitude the temperature is increased and as you heat particles they spread further apart decreasing their pressure. As you increase altitude, Earth's gravity is not acting as greatly as when closer to Earth's surface so the weight of air molecules decrease, which also in turn decreases air pressure.

Answer 1

The correct answer is " As you increase altitude, Earth's gravity is not acting as greatly as when closer to Earth's surface so the weight of air molecules decrease, which also in turn decreases air pressure."

Step-by-step explanation:

As altitude increases air becomes rarefied. At higher altitudes there is less Earth's gravity acting on the air molecules than at areas close the earth surface. Air pressure is the weight of air acting per unit surface area. At higher altitudes as the weight of air decreases due to reduced gravitational pull the air pressure also decreases.