Answer to Question #187573 in Physical geography for Desmond Ahiable

Question

Explain why pressure decreases with altitude

Answer 1

Imagine you were asked to stand in a 20m-deep empty pool. Then pong-pong balls are added to the pool. 1 meter of light balls is not a problem, 2 m is not a problem... 3 meters of balls, and you start to feel pressure on top of your head. 6 meters of balls, and you feel that although every single ball is very light, 6 meters cause a significant pressure on you feet, shoulders, and head. 10 meters - and you feel that it is quite heavy. Then imagine the staff pulls you higher and higher. Of course, the decreasing number of balls will cause less pressure.

The same is about air pressure. Balls in this illustration are molecules of air.