Question

Pproximately how does the density of air vary with altitude?

a) Increases with altitude.
b) Decreases with altitude.
c) Remains constant with altitude.
d) Peaks at a specific altitude.

Answer 1

The density of air decreases with altitude, as evidenced by the lower air density at the summit of Mount Everest, with additional properties besides average density required to identify multi-material objects. The correct answer is b) Decreases with altitude.

Step-by-step explanation:

The density of air varies according to altitude, with the density decreasing as altitude increases. This relationship can be described as approximately exponential; however, the temperature, which varies with altitude, can also affect this relationship.

A specific example that illustrates this decline is the air density at the summit of Mount Everest, which is about 8,828 meters above sea level having an air density of 0.023 kilograms per cubic meter.

When dealing with objects composed of more than one material for identification, additional information besides average density, such as volume, mass, and structural properties, might be necessary.

For a column of air of a constant temperature, the density decreases exponentially with altitude.