Answer to Question #187177 in Physical geography for Richmond Baidoo

Question

Explain with a diagram why pressure decreases with altitude

Answer 1

We know that the further bodies from each other, the smaller the force of gravitational interaction between them. So, at high altitudes the distance between molecules of air increases and the gravitational force can hold only slow molecules, and there are not many slow molecules. At low heights, however, earth's gravity can hold even fast molecules of air, so, there are more molecules at low altitudes than at high.