Air

Air surrounds us all the time, and when it moves we feel it as wind. The
envelope of air that surrounds the Earth is called the atmosphere. Our moon
does not have any atmosphere, other planets in the solar system do have
atmospheres, but the Earth is unique in that its atmosphere contains oxygen,
which we need to breathe.

Atmospheric Layers

If we climb to the top of a tall mountain, we may notice that it becomes colder as
we go higher, and that it may become more difficult to breathe. Air higher up is
thinner because gravity pulls it towards the Earth's surface. It is colder because
most heating takes place near the ground which is warmed by the Sun during
the daytime.

Earth's atmosphere is divided into a number of layers.

Troposphere:

The lowest layer is called the troposphere and is about 10 km thick.

Stratosphere:

Above the troposphere lies the stratosphere. This layer extends up to 50 km

above the Earth's surface. Concorde (an airplane) flies within this atmospheric
layer. Air temperature actually rises again in the stratosphere because ozone in
the ozone layer is heated by ultraviolet rays from the Sun. This ozone layer
protects life on Earth from the Sun's damaging rays.
More layers lie above the stratosphere. At these altitudes however, the air
becomes very thin indeed. Here meteors burn up when they strike the Earth's
atmosphere, and can be seen at night as shooting stars.

Uses of Air

 Compressed is used to work road drills.

 Tyres are filled with compressed air so that they support bicycles, cars,
lorries, and aircrafts.
 Moving air called wind is used to move the sail boat.
 Some air pumps are used in hospital machines.
 Air blown into a flute vibrates to produce a nice sound

Prepared by:Amir Faheem SS Physics (TICSS) Faisalabad

Composition of Air:

Air is the mixture of gases, it consists of mainly of nitrogen 78% and oxygen
21%, 0.03% carbon dioxide 0.9% Argon, varying amounts of water vapors and
traces of hydrogen, ozone, methane and helium. Some of these are greenhouse
gases which keep the planet naturally warm and suitable for life.

Nitrogen:

 It is colourless and odourless gas.

 It is the most abundant gas in the air.
 Plants need nitrogen to make protein.

Oxygen:

 It is need for respiration by living things.

 We can live only for a few minutes without oxygen.
 Fires need oxygen to burn.
 Oxygen with acetylene is used to weld metals.
 Oxygen is used to burn fuels in space crafts.
 Green plants produce oxygen during the process of photosynthesis.

Carbon dioxide:

 It is colourless and odourless gas.

 It does not support combustion; hence it is used in fire extinguishers.
 It is used by plants to produce food during photosynthesis.

Noble gases (Argon, Neon, Krypton, and Xenon):

 These are group of very inactive gases.

 Helium is very lighter than air that is why it is used in weather balloons.
 Neon is used for making advertising board.
 Argon is used for making glowing bulbs.

Air pollution

Harmful substances present in the air cause air pollution, these may be gases
or solid particles. These particles are called air pollutants.

Prepared by:Amir Faheem SS Physics (TICSS) Faisalabad

Some of the air pollutants are as follow.

Air pollutant Physical Sources Harmful effects

properties
Sulphur dioxide Unpleasant, Power stations Breathing
colorless gas with and industries difficulties,
an irritating odour which burn fossil bronchitis, lung
fuel cancer, acid rain
Carbon monoxide Colourless, Cigarette smoke, Head aches,
odourless and incomplete brain damage,
poisonous gas burning of carbon death
compounds and
vehicle exhaust.
Oxides of nitrogen Poisonous Burning of coal Cough, head
gaseous and oil from aches, lung
compounds industries, diseases, acid
exhaust from rain, greenhouse
motor vehicles effect lading to
global warming
Lead compounds Poisonous solid exhaust from the
particles combustion of
leaded petrol or
oil in motor
vehicles
Chlorofluorocarbons Colourless gases Aerosol sprays, Thinning of
(CFCS) containg chlorine foams, air- ozone layer,
conditioning green house
systems and effect leading to
refrigeration global warming

Green house effect:

The earth atmosphere contains carbon dioxide and oxides of Nitrogen.
These gases trap the heat inside the Earth’s atmosphere and prevent the heat
from leaving.
In this way keep the earth warm.
In present days increasing quantity of these gases in atmosphere due to
industrial activities trap more heat than we need and consequently average
temperature of Earth is increasing rapidly.

Prepared by:Amir Faheem SS Physics (TICSS) Faisalabad