The majority of gas molecules are near the Earth's surface. Why does this mean that the atmospheric pressure will be greater there?
A) There are more gas molecules in the overlying air to press on objects.
B) The gas molecules are moving faster there.
C) The gas molecules are bigger there.
D) The gas molecules are heavier there.
E) The gas molecules are smaller there.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The more gas molecules in the overlying air, the greater the pressure they exert on objects at the Earth's surface. This is because the weight of the molecules pressing down on an object increases with the number of molecules present. Therefore, the high concentration of gas molecules near the Earth's surface leads to greater atmospheric pressure.

The Majority of Gas Molecules Are near the Earth's Surface