Question

Which statement explains what happens to air temperature as elevation increases and why? As elevation increases, air pressure increases, molecules spread out, and air temperature cools. As elevation increases, air pressure increases, molecules compress, and air temperature rises. As elevation increases, air pressure decreases, molecules spread out, and air temperature cools. As elevation increases, air pressure decreases, molecules compress, and air temperature rises.

Answer 1

Answer:

Option C, As elevation increases, air pressure decreases, molecules spread out, and air temperature cools.

Explanation:

As we move towards the sky the number of air particles reduces and hence its density also reduces. Due to lesser number of particles the pressure exerted by air also reduces at high elevations.

As per the gas law

$PV = nRT$

Where P is the pressure, V is the volume, n is the number of mole, R is the gas constant and T is the temperature.  

Gas law states that if volume is constant, the relation between temperature and pressure is proportional.  

Thus, if pressure is reducing the temperature will also reduce.  

Hence, option C is correct

Answer 2

Answer:

Option (C)

Explanation:

In the atmosphere, the general trend is that with the increasing height, the temperature decreases. It is because the concentration of air molecules decreases with the increasing height. Due to the lesser concentration of air molecules, they are scattered randomly, spreading out in all the direction, resulting in the lowering of temperature. This is why the temperature and pressure in the air decrease, with the increasing height.

Thus, the correct answer is option (C).