Question

What is the freezing point of 5,000 meters of water?

a) "It remains at 0°C"
b) "It becomes -5°C"
c) "It increases to 5°C"
d) "It becomes -10°C"

Answer 1

The freezing point of water at 5,000 meters is lower than at sea level due to decreased atmospheric pressure. Approximately every 1,000 meters elevation causes the freezing point to decrease by about 0.5°C, which would make the closest answer 'It becomes -5°C'.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is asking about the freezing point of water at an elevation of 5,000 meters. At sea level, the freezing point of water is 0°C. However, the freezing point of water decreases with elevation due to a decrease in atmospheric pressure. Each 1,000 meters in elevation can reduce the freezing point by approximately 0.5°C. Therefore, at 5,000 meters, the freezing point would be lower than 0°C. Given the provided options, the closest answer that takes into account this decrease would be 'It becomes -5°C' because at 5,000 meters the pressure would be lower and thus the temperature required for water to freeze decreases.