Form 2 Chapter 6: AIR PRESSURE

6.1 Air Pressure

6.1.1 Kinetic Theory of Gases

The kinetic theory of gases states that
Air or gases are matters that have particles that move
randomly in all directions.
Gas particles in a container collide with each other and
with the walls of the container all the time.
Gas particles exert a force on the wall of the container
This force produces a pressure
Air presses down on all things in the Earth's surface. The
pressure exerted by air particles on the surface on an object
is known as air pressure or atmospheric pressure.
The features of air pressure are :
Acts in all direction
Changes from one place to another
Decreases the higher we go above ground level. This is
due to at high place, the amount on air decreases. This
explains why the air pressure on the top of a mountain is
lower that at the foot of the mountain.

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Form 2 Chapter 6: AIR PRESSURE

6.1.2 Factors Affecting Air Pressure

Air pressure is affected by volume and temperature of air.
Factor
Effect
Explanation
Volume
Air pressure
As the volume decreases, the
increases with
air particles move in a smaller
decreasing
space. As a result, more
volume of the
particles hit the wall of the
container and
container. Therefore, a higher
produces a
pressure acts on the wall of
larger force.
the container.
Temperat Air pressure
As the temperature increases,
ure
increases as
the air particles have more
the gas
kinetic energy. More particles
increases.
hit the wall of the container
with greater force. Therefore,
the pressure increases.

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