87.9k views
3 votes
At higher elevations, air is less dense and has less oxygen. Yes or no?

User Qid
by
7.5k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Confirming that at higher elevations, air is indeed less dense and has less oxygen, data shows a decrease in air density with increasing altitude, evidenced by specific decreases in kilograms per cubic meter and lower oxygen levels.

Yes, at higher elevations, air is less dense and contains less oxygen. As one ascends through the atmosphere, the number of air molecules in a given volume decreases. According to the information provided, we can see a clear demonstration of this concept through a decline in air density as altitude increases.

For instance, at 4,000 meters the air density decreases by approximately 0.1 kilograms per cubic meter for every additional 1,000 meters. This means the slope of the relationship between altitude and air density on the graph would show a downward tilt, indicating that the higher you go, the less dense the air becomes.

Additionally, at the summit of Mount Everest, at an altitude of roughly 8,828 meters, the air density is only 0.023 kilograms per cubic meter, significantly lower than at sea level. With reduced air density, the oxygen concentration is also lower, which can cause difficulties in breathing and is why supplemental oxygen is often required for high altitude climbing.

User Tukaef
by
8.0k points