Atmospheric pressure:

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Atmospheric pressure and its behavior with altitude is the central theme here, so let’s parse each choice in turn.
Option 1: 'Always decreases with height.' This aligns with the general understanding of the atmosphere: as you go higher, the weight of the air above you diminishes, leading to lower pressure. In most standard contexts, this is the baseline expectation.
Option 2: 'Decreases with height up until the altitude that planes typically fly, then increases with height.' In reality, there isn’t a known layer in which pressure begins to rise again with increasing altitude under standard atmospheric conditions. The hydrostatic balance and gravity ensure pressure continues to fall with height; an increase would require an unusual mass distribution or dynamic forcing not present in ordinary atmospheric layers, making this option inaccurate.
Option 3: 'Always increases with height.' This contradicts the fundamental hydrostatic principle: more air above at lower altitudes creates higher pressure, while at higher altitudes there is less overlying air, so pressure decreases, not increases. Therefore this option is misleading.
Option 4: 'Increases with height, except where there is a pressure inversion.' The term pressure inversion is not used to describe a situation where ambient pressure increases with altitude; inversions refer more to temperature and density profiles. Pressure itself does not exhibit a systematic rise with height in normal atmospheric structure, so this statement is not correct.
Thus, evaluating the statements collectively: the only option that correctly captures the typical vertical trend of atmospheric pressure without introducing unsupported exceptions is that pressure decreases with height throughout the atmosphere.

Math & Science Prep Program Placement Assessment

Atmospheric pressure:

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