Final answer:
The statement that air density increases with altitude is false. Air density actually decreases with altitude, as illustrated by the negative slope of the altitude-air density graph. Higher altitudes have less gravitational pull on air molecules, resulting in lower air density.
Explanation
The statement that air density increases with altitude is false. As altitude increases, the air density decreases. This can be observed in the relationship shown by the Altitude-Air Density graph (Figure A4), where we see that air density, measured in kilograms per cubic meter, declines as altitude, measured in meters above sea level, rises.
The graph shows that at the peak of Mount Everest, which is approximately 8,828 meters above sea level, the air density is only 0.023 kilograms per cubic meter. To understand this trend, consider that air is subject to gravity, which pulls the air molecules closer to the Earth's surface, making the air denser at lower altitudes.
In terms of the slope on a graph, the air density decrease with altitude is represented by a negative slope which gets flatter (a smaller absolute value) as the altitude increases. The air density at an altitude of 4,000 meters compared to 6,000 meters drops by approximately 0.1 kilograms/cubic meter for each additional 1,000 meters. This demonstrates the exponential decrease in air density as you ascend in altitude.
Final answer:
The statement that air density increases with altitude is false. Air density actually decreases with altitude, as illustrated by the negative slope of the altitude-air density graph. Higher altitudes have less gravitational pull on air molecules, resulting in lower air density.
Step-by-step explanation:
Does Air Density Increase with Altitude?
The statement that air density increases with altitude is false. As altitude increases, the air density decreases. This can be observed in the relationship shown by the Altitude-Air Density graph (Figure A4), where we see that air density, measured in kilograms per cubic meter, declines as altitude, measured in meters above sea level, rises.
The graph shows that at the peak of Mount Everest, which is approximately 8,828 meters above sea level, the air density is only 0.023 kilograms per cubic meter. To understand this trend, consider that air is subject to gravity, which pulls the air molecules closer to the Earth's surface, making the air denser at lower altitudes. As you move higher up, the gravitational pull on the air molecules is less, and the air molecules are more spread out, leading to lower air density. This decrease in air density with altitude is an important concept that has implications for a variety of fields including meteorology, aviation, and mountain climbing.
In terms of the slope on a graph, the air density decrease with altitude is represented by a negative slope which gets flatter (a smaller absolute value) as the altitude increases. The air density at an altitude of 4,000 meters compared to 6,000 meters drops by approximately 0.1 kilograms/cubic meter for each additional 1,000 meters. This demonstrates the exponential decrease in air density as you ascend in altitude.