Question

As we go up the layers of the atmosphere, the pressure …………………..
A. Increases
B. Decreases
C. Remains the same
D. All of these

Answer 1

Hint: A blend or layer of certain gases that surrounds the planet Earth is referred to as the Atmosphere. The approximate extent of the atmosphere is around 500 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. This gaseous envelope is divided into five different layers according to the rising altitudes and temperature.

Complete step by step answer:
The main layers into which our atmosphere is divided are – the Troposphere, the Stratosphere, the Mesosphere, the Thermosphere, and the Exosphere. As we go away from the surface (land or sea) of the Earth, we get these five layers respectively.
Every column of air above the Earth is believed to have formed on the earth’s surface. This force per unit area is what we call atmospheric pressure. The instrument with which the atmospheric pressure in a region is measured is the Barometer.
 The change in pressure can be described through two components- vertical and horizontal.
Firstly, as we go up the different layers of the atmosphere, the altitude increases. At the sea level, the force created by a column of air is the most. Hence, the pressure is also the highest. As we go upwards, this force decreases, and eventually, the pressure is on the decreasing trend.
Secondly, the way air pressure is distributed on the horizontal level is determined by the temperature of that place. As we go up, the temperature falls, the air keeps on cooling and does not rise. This results in the falling pressure.
So, the correct answer is Option B.

Note: The layers are significantly different from each other in terms of composition, temperature, and other parameters. The pressure of the atmosphere is a function of a number of factors. The air density decreases as we go up through the layers of the atmosphere.