As air rises over a mountain it
A) expands and cools.
B) compresses and cools.
C) expands and heats up.
D) compresses and heats up.
E) compresses and stays the same temperature.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As air rises, it experiences a decrease in pressure and expands. This expansion results in a decrease in temperature, as energy is spread out over a larger volume. This is known as adiabatic cooling. Therefore, as air rises over a mountain, it expands and cools.

As Air Rises Over a Mountain It