Question

Explain on terms of air molecules why the pressure at the top of a high mountain is less than at sea level

Answer 1

At higher altitudes, the number of air molecules in a given volume of air decreases. This is because the pressure decreases with altitude, meaning there are fewer air molecules pushing down on a surface at the top of a high mountain compared to at sea level. The decrease in pressure is due to the decrease in the weight of the overlying air column as altitude increases. This is why the pressure at the top of a high mountain is less than at sea level.