Uses of Air

Today we will learn about the “Uses of air for kids”. Air is a type of stuff that is present all around us in the atmosphere. The atmosphere is the earth's protective air ring. Can you explain why we need air?

Air includes oxygen, which we breathe and shields us from the sun's dangerous UV rays. Air is a combination of many gases that surrounds us. We can't see it. Here, in this article, we will learn about the importance of air and its uses of air in our life. We will move ahead with the detailed explanation about air.

What Does Air Contain?

The atmosphere is mostly composed of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.03%), and other gases such as helium, ozone, argon, and hydrogen (0.04%). The atmosphere's air performs numerous important activities that aid in the survival of life.

In addition to nitrogen and oxygen, air consists of small amounts of the gases argon, neon, helium, and methane. Besides gases, air also contains water vapour, dust, pollen, and bacteria. 

The water vapour in the air is the source of rain and snow. Dry air includes 78.08 percent nitrogen, 20.95 percent oxygen, 0.93 percent argon, 0.04 percent carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases by mole fraction (number of molecules). Air also includes varying amounts of water vapour, with an average of roughly 1% at sea level and 0.4 percent throughout the atmosphere. 

Why Do We Need Air?  

Oxygen is the fresh air we breathe in, while carbon dioxide is the waste air we exhale. We would die if we did not have air because our cells would be unable to do their activities. Life on earth will approximately finish.

It generates the pressure that allows liquid water to exist on our planet's surface. It heats our planet and keeps temperatures suitable for life. Organisms that require air to breathe would die if there was no air. Fish would also die since they also need oxygen to survive.. The majority of aquatic species would die. There are many uses of air in our life.

What are the Important Uses of Air?

The importance of air lies hereunder:

• Air and the Water Cycle

The water cycle ensures that life around the planet receives the water it needs by replenishing lakes, rivers and other waterways and helping in irrigating parched lands.

• Air and the Carbon Cycle

Air is important for recycling of carbon that comes into the biosphere from fossil fuel combustion, the decay of dead animals, and the eruption of volcanoes. Most living organisms exhale carbon dioxide into the air during respiration. Plants utilize the exhaled carbon dioxide present in the air for photosynthesis, which produces oxygen.

• Air Makes the Earth's Cosy

Air contains carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that absorb infrared radiation released from the earth. This phenomenon, called The greenhouse effect keeps  the earth's surface warm which would not have been possible otherwise.

• Air Protects us

Air helps protect us from harmful radiations and celestial particles like the x-rays, cosmic rays, meteors, asteroids can be too destructive. Air also reduces the possibility of destruction by meteorites and asteroids.

• Air Helps to Hear

People can hear sound only because air carries sound waves from one point to another. 

• Air Helps to See the Sky Blue

Due to air molecules causing violet and blue wavelengths of sunlight to scatter, the sky appears blue. 

• Air Causes Change in Weather

Climatic phenomena like rain, snow, and sea storms are all attributes of air.

Essential Uses of Air

Below are the essential uses of air with brief explanation:

Sustain Life and Growth

Air has oxygen as one of its key elements. It is vital for the sustenance of life on earth as all living organisms and plants depend on oxygen in the air for breathing in oxygen. There are many uses of air in daily life. In living organisms, oxygen is supplied to all the cells in the body through blood. Similarly, plant cells also utilize carbon dioxide in the air to produce food that we eat to get energy. 

Pollination

Pollination is the process where pollen grains from the male flower reach the female flower. Air is also an important medium for transportation of these pollen grains without which flowers could not bloom and fruits could not be produced.

Land and Sea Breezes

During conditions of extreme heat, the land surface becomes hotter compared to oceans or sea surfaces. The hot air on the land rises rapidly and the place is filled by the cool air coming from the ocean. This cycle of rapid movement of air is useful in maintaining temperature over land.

Monsoon

Monsoon is of critical importance as it provides for irrigation and thus, production of crops.  This monsoon is aided by the winds which carry the clouds from above the oceans of the world. Thus, air plays an important role in the movement of clouds and its absence can cause drought-like conditions in some regions. 

Aerodynamics

Parachutes and hot air balloons use air for mobility. Therefore, to land safely, it uses the function of buoyancy where hot air balloons travel up in the air using hot air as a medium. Air also enables airplanes to fly and travel from one place to another.

Land Transportation

Air-filled tires, commonly used for land-based transport, reduce the friction between the tire and the solid surface, thus enabling automobiles to move faster. 

Transportation in Airplanes

Air makes transportation easier as it facilitates the smooth movement of airplanes. It is a common mode of transport globally across long distances. One can avoid obstacles through air travel. Several other living beings like birds and insects depend on air for mobility. Air also has several tiny living organisms called bioaerosols. They cannot fly on their own and depend on air for transportation. 

Minimizing Pollution

Major cities are getting choked with pollutants, dust, smog, and chemicals preventing visibility and causing several health hazards. Air is useful in minimizing air pollution by spreading it across vast areas instead of clogging it at a specific place.

Wind Power Energy

Air is a good source of wind energy. In recent times there is a significant increase in the usage of wind energy to generate electricity by using wind turbines. Turbines rotate with the wind flow and thus generate electricity. 

Combustion

Combustion is a chemical reaction between oxygen in the air and fuel accompanied by the production of heat energy. In simple terms, it is called burning which is a chemical reaction. It is similar to photosynthesis  but in reverse.

Some Examples of Combustion are as Follows:

• Generating heat by burning coal or wood·        

• Utilizing petrol or diesel as sources for transportation (car)·        

• Utilizing natural gas as fuel for cooking·        

• Utilizing fuel as an energy source in thermal power plants      

• Fireworks during festivals or events

Summary

In this article, we studied air and its uses of air in our life. Without our air, life on Earth would not be possible. We can breathe the oxygen in our atmosphere, which also contains carbon dioxide that plants need to survive. The atmosphere, however, does much more than just give living things access to air. The temperature of Earth is also regulated by the atmosphere. After reading this article you will be able to understand all the important points about the air.