The image shows a diagram explaining a concept. 1 m² column of air (mass =
kg) Gravitational force 1 atm pressure at surface Which concept does the diagram show? temperature altitude air density air pressure
The image shows a diagram explaining a concept. 1 m² column of air (mass =
kg) Gravitational force 1 atm pressure at surface Which concept does the diagram show? temperature altitude air density air pressure
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: Air Pressure
Explanation
The diagram described shows a 1 square meter (1 m²) column of air, with a given mass pressing down due to gravitational force, resulting in a pressure of 1 atmosphere (1 atm) at the Earth’s surface. This directly illustrates the concept of air pressure.
Air pressure, also known as atmospheric pressure, is the force exerted by the weight of air in the Earth’s atmosphere on a surface. At sea level, this pressure is approximately 101,325 Pascals or 1 atm. The pressure results from the weight of the air molecules stacked in a column above a given area. Since air has mass and Earth’s gravity pulls it downward, the air exerts a force on surfaces it touches.
In the diagram, the mass of the column of air over 1 m² contributes to a measurable force. When that force is distributed over the 1 m² area, it results in the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level. The gravitational force on the mass of air is what causes this pressure.
This is distinct from temperature, which measures the kinetic energy of particles; altitude, which affects pressure but is not the pressure itself; and air density, which refers to how closely packed the air molecules are. While all these factors relate to atmospheric conditions and can influence air pressure, the diagram explicitly illustrates how pressure arises due to the weight of the air column.
As altitude increases, the air column becomes shorter (less air above), so air pressure decreases. This relationship further emphasizes that the force from the air’s weight—i.e., air pressure—is what’s being shown in the diagram.
Hence, the concept demonstrated in the diagram is clearly air pressure.
