Topic- atmospheric pressure

En. -216400319205
ATMOSPHERIC
PRESSURE
Understanding the Invisible Force
Think
About This!
Have you ever wondered why
your ears pop on airplanes or
when driving up mountains
and steep inclines?
 ANSWER KEY

Think
About This!
As altitude changes, the air pressure
outside your body differs from the pressure
in your middle ear.

Your ears pop as they adjust to equalise the

pressure between the outside environment
and the inside of your ear.
Today, you will...

Describe atmospheric
pressure

Understand how
altitude affects air
pressure
Did You Know?
Connect atmospheric Mount Everest climbers need
pressure changes with oxygen tanks because of low
real-world phenomena atmospheric pressure at high
altitudes!
Atmospheric
Pressure
What is it?
It is the weight of air molecules pressing down over
Earth’s surface.

Even though air feels light, there's actually a lot of it in

the atmosphere, and all that air pushes down on us,
creating pressure.

Atmospheric pressure at sea level is about 100,000 N/m

or 100 kPa. 2
 ANSWER KEY

Learning Check
The air inside us also exerts an outward
pressure, balancing out the atmospheric
pressure.

Our bodies are adapted to the standard

pressure of our environment, allowing
us to withstand the weight of the air
Imagine this!
above us without harm.
The Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the
deepest known point in Earth's oceans, experiences a
pressure of approximately 110,000,000 Pa. This
accounts for the combined atmospheric and water
pressure.
Atmospheric
Pressure
How is it measured?
A barometer is a scientific
instrument used to measure
atmospheric pressure, typically in
millibars (mb).

The standard pressure reading is 1000

mb. Readings above this indicate high
pressure, while those below indicate
barometer barograph
low pressure.
(a barometer that records
pressure in graphical form)
 Learning Check Pressure Changes with Altitude
What does the graph show?
500

Altitude (kilometres)
The graph shows the relationship 400
between atmospheric pressure and
300
altitude.
200
What do you notice about the trend of
100
the atmospheric pressure as altitude
increases? 0
200 400 600 800 1000

Atmospheric Pressure (millibars)

 ANSWER KEY

Learning Check Pressure Changes with Altitude

What does the graph show?

500

Altitude (kilometres)
400

300

The graph shows that as 200

altitude increases,
atmospheric pressure 100

decreases. 0
200 400 600 800 1000

Atmospheric Pressure (millibars)

 Why does pressure decrease
with increasing altitude?
At higher altitudes, air becomes
less dense. Fewer air molecules in a
given volume means lower
pressure.
Gravity is weaker farther away
from the Earth’s center. So at
higher altitudes, molecules can
spread out more or become
‘thinner’, causing a decrease in
pressure.
Atmospheric Pressure in Daily Life

AVIATION MOUNTAINEERING

Airplanes are pressurised to ensure Climbers experience lower pressure and

enough oxygen for breathing and lower oxygen levels at high altitudes.
prevent the harmful effects of low They typically ascend slowly to allow
pressure on the human body. their bodies to adapt.
Atmospheric Pressure in Daily Life
Weather Forecasting

Meteorologists rely on
atmospheric pressure to forecast
weather.

High pressure suggests clear

conditions and low pressure
often indicates stormy weather,
including hurricanes and
cyclones.
 ANSWER KEY

Learning Check
At higher altitudes, the external air pressure is
lower than the pressure inside the balloon.

As the external air pressure decreases, the

balloon will expand further until the pressure
inside matches the reduced pressure outside.
This poses a risk of bursting or excessive
stretching of the material.
Creating a Makeshift
Barometer
Search online or in other resources for
instructions on creating a makeshift
barometer using a jar and a balloon.

Observe and record local weather changes

for the next two weeks in relation to
atmospheric pressure variations.
 A Recap

Atmospheric Atmospheric Real-World

Pressure Pressure and Examples
Altitude
It is the force exerted The relationship between
by the weight of the altitude and atmospheric
As altitude increases, pressure is can be seen in
air in the atmosphere atmospheric pressure aviation, mountaineering
over Earth’s surface. decreases. and weather forecasting.