The Truth About Air

Question 0

At sea level, one square inch of air exerts a pressure of about 1._______ pounds. That’s the weight of the 2.______________________________________ rising above that square inch.

Answer 0

1. 14.7 2. entire column of the atmosphere

Question 1

What is air pressure?

Answer 1

The force exerted by the weight of air on a surface.

Question 2

As the elevation above sea level 1.____________, the air becomes less 2.____________ and the “column of atmosphere” above it is shorter. This means there’s less 3.__________ weighting on each square inch, and the air exerts 4.______________________.

Answer 2

1. increases 2. dense 3. mass 4. less pressure

Question 3

What do scientists and meteorologists use to detect and measure air pressure changes?

Answer 3

barometers

Question 4

Who was the barometer invented by?

Answer 4

Evangelista Torricelli

Question 5

Today, scientists measure air pressure in units called ____________.

Answer 5

millibars

Question 6

1.0 bar is the air pressure at ___________________.

Answer 6

sea level

Question 7

Name one ingredient of weather on earth.

Answer 7

Changing air pressure

Question 8

The formation of 1._________ is a direct result of 2.____________________.

Answer 8

1. clouds 2. air pressure

Question 9

1._____ clouds, such as stratus clouds, are 2.__________ and 3.____________ than clouds high in the sky.

Answer 9

1. low 2. denser 3. thicker

Question 10

Clouds that are high in the sky such as cirrus clouds are 1.__________ and 2.______________ than clouds at low altitudes.

Answer 10

1. wispier 2. thinner

Question 11

Differences in 1.___________________ from region to region also cause 2._______ to move, which is the definition of 3.___________.

Answer 11

1. air pressure 2. air 3. wind

Question 12

From what regions does air flow to?

Answer 12

From high-pressure regions to low-pressure regions.

Question 13

Because air 1._________ are in constant motion, 2.___________________ in any location on earth can vary from 3.______________________ or even from 4.________________________.

Answer 13

1. masses 2. air pressure 3. day to day 4. hour to hour

Question 14

Since pressure 1.______________ help scientists predict how air might 2._________, monitoring and predicting changes in air pressure is fundamental to 3._________________________________.

Answer 14

1. differences 2. move 3. weather forecasting