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Experiments which can prove that air has mass and therefore weight abound, but I'll give a simple thought experiment here which indicates that air must be massive.
Assume that the atmosphere of the earth has some pressure P at the surface of the planet (reasonable, as many homes have barometers which measure just that), and determine what the pressure will be at other altitudes.
Pressure exerts a force proportional to the value P and the surface area A of the face of the volume you are considering out of the volume, this is its definition. If that force is not balanced by another force on the face of that volume then the air will reapportion itself until the forces are balanced, which will lead to a different pressure. If air has no mass then the force of weight does not contribute to the overall force on any volume of air, and it can only be balanced by an equal pressure immediately above it. This is true of any volume of air, not just those at the surface.
Thus we see that if air had no mass then the atmosphere would have to extend throughout all space to remain pressurized at a fixed value. Since this is clearly not the case according to repeated measurements of atmospheric pressure at altitude, as well as being contradicted by the many space missions which have been performed, air must be massive.
Air has weight because it is made up of molecules that have mass. The weight of air is due to the force of gravity pulling on these molecules towards the Earth's surface. This weight can be measured using tools such as a barometer.
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Why does that a small pin sinks in water whereas A big ship floats in water Explain?
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Does air have weight?
Anything with mass has weight; air has mass, therefore it has weight.
Is weight a fundamental?
Is weight a fundamental unit? Please explain Regards
Give examples from daily life that air has weight?
air has weight
What is the molecular weight of hydrochloric acid and how did you get this weight please explain?
36.5g/mol.
Is weight a fundamental unit?
Is weight a fundamental unit? Please explain Regards
Explain the concept of air pressure in terms of mass of air above some level?
Air pressure is the weight of the column of air above a specific point. As you move higher in the atmosphere, there is less air above you, so the weight pressing down decreases, causing lower air pressure. Therefore, air pressure decreases with an increase in altitude due to the reduction in the mass of air above that level.
What gives air its weight?
Air has weight because it is made up of molecules that have mass. The weight of the air is due to the gravitational force pulling down on these molecules. The more air molecules present in a given volume, the greater the weight of the air.
The weight of air is called?
The weight of air is called atmospheric pressure. It is the force exerted by the weight of the air above a given point in the atmosphere.
What are the 3 properties of air?
The three properties of air are weight, mass, and density.
What is the weight of air on earth is called?
The weight of air on Earth is called atmospheric pressure. It is the force exerted by the weight of air molecules in the Earth's atmosphere on a surface.
Explain what hppens to air pressure as you move away from the earths surface?
Pressure increases as you get closer to earth.
