Why Does Air Pressure Drop as You Go Up a Mountain?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does air pressure drop as you go up a mountain?

The Big Idea

Air pressure drops as you go up a mountain because there is less air above you! Air has weight, even though you cannot see it. The higher you climb, the less air is stacked on top of you.

Air Has Weight

Step one: air has weight. At sea level, you have a tall column of air pressing down on you. You do not feel it, because the air pushes in from all sides, and your body is used to it.

Less Above

Step two: less air above. Higher up, there is less air above you, so there is less weight pressing down. That means the air pressure is lower.

Thinner Air

Step three: thinner air. The air spreads out too, so each breath holds fewer air molecules. At the top of the tallest mountains, the pressure is only about a third of sea level.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! At sea level, lots of air is stacked above you. On a mountain top, much less air is above you. So the pressure is lower. And each breath has fewer air molecules.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Air pressure falls roughly by half for every 18,000 feet you climb. So at 18,000 feet, you have about half the pressure of sea level. At the top of the tallest mountains, it is only about a third. That is why people take time to adjust to high places.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Squeeze a sponge in your hand. Imagine a tall stack of sponges on top of it. How would the pressure change if some were removed? Fewer sponges means less pressure, just like on a mountain.

Outro

Pressure drops on a mountain because there is less air above you. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!