American Meteorological Society Certification (AMS) Practice

Question: 1 / 400

What happens to the air density as altitude increases?

It decreases

As altitude increases, air density decreases due to the reduction in the number of air molecules available in a given volume. The atmosphere is composed of a mixture of gases, with gravity pulling these gas molecules toward the Earth's surface. As you ascend into the atmosphere, the weight of the air above decreases, resulting in lower pressure. This change in pressure leads to a decrease in the density of the air, which is defined as mass per unit volume.

At higher altitudes, the air becomes thinner, which is why flyers feel it harder to breathe in high-altitude conditions without supplemental oxygen. The behavior of gases also follows the ideal gas law, which indicates that for a fixed amount of gas at a constant temperature, an increase in volume leads to a decrease in pressure, further supporting the idea that air density must decrease with increasing altitude.

Get further explanation with Examzify DeepDiveBeta

It increases

It remains unchanged

It fluctuates frequently

Next Question

Report this question

Download American Meteorological Society Certification (AMS) Practice PDF Study Guide
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy