What happens to molecules in air as altitude increases in the troposphere?
• They move farther apart from each other.
• They get closer to each other.
• They stay at the same temperature.
• They become denser
They move farther apart from each other.
As altitude increases in the troposphere, the following happens to the molecules in the air:
1. They move farther apart from each other: This is the correct answer. As altitude increases, the air pressure decreases. The decrease in air pressure causes the molecules to spread out and move farther apart from each other.
2. They get closer to each other: This is not true. As altitude increases, the opposite happens, and the molecules in the air actually move farther apart from each other due to the decrease in air pressure.
3. They stay at the same temperature: This is not directly related to the change in altitude. The temperature in the troposphere generally decreases with increasing altitude, but the molecules themselves do not change temperature as a direct result of altitude changes.
4. They become denser: This is not true. As altitude increases, the air density decreases because there are fewer molecules per unit volume of air due to the decrease in air pressure.
To determine the correct answer to this question, you can apply your knowledge of the behavior of gases and the change in air pressure with altitude.