Question
Explain why Atmospheric pressure at a height of about 6 km decreases to nearly half of its value at the sea level, though the height of the atmosphere is more than 100 km
Solution 1
The variation of air-density with height is not linear. So, pressure also does not reduce linearly with height. The air pressure at a height h is given by P = P0e–αh where P0 represents the pressure of air at sea-level and α is a constant.
Solution 2
A density of air is the maximum near the sea level. The density of air decreases with increase in height from the surface. At a height of about 6 km, density decreases to nearly half of its value at the sea level. Atmospheric pressure is proportional to density. Hence, at a height of 6 km from the surface, it decreases to nearly half of its value at the sea level.