[Attack_Cobra]

Ok, so I'm a 5th grade teacher and I don't get stumped too often. But, the other day in class, I had a question that I really couldn't answer! We were talking about hot and cold air and the fact that hot air molecules have more kinetic (movement thus heat) energy than cold air molecules. A girl raised her hand and asked me, "If heat rises, why is it cold in the mountains? Where does the heat go?"

What came to mind was the fact that air is thinner the higher you go. Since the air is thinner, it hold less heat and is colder. That's what i told her, but I said I definately didn't really know. Anybody know?!? Heat rises, but at some point, the higher you go, the colder it is. At what point is that?!?

Are you smarter than a 5th grader?!?!

[N29468]

The saying "heat rises" is an acknowledgement of the fact that warmer air has a lower density than the surrounding atmosphere, and therefore, being of lower density, it will rise. This rising is limited however - think about it - if there were no limit to hot air rising, then the entire atmosphere would float out into space. The reason it is "cold" in the upper atmosphere is actually because of a lower air density. Remember that our concept of "temperature" as measured by a thermometer is actually the energy of the collisions between atoms. If you have a high density of atoms and you put thermal energy into the system you will raise the temperature. In the upper reaches of the atmosphere, the decreasing density means that even if the temperature were constant, it would FEEL like the temperature was going down. This lowering of temperature with altitude is called the "lapse rate" and a standard lapse rate is about 3deg Fahrenheit per 1000 feet. This can change from 1-5 degrees F depending on variables like pressure, humidity, etc. If you want to learn more about it, search for information on the tropopause.

[Attack_Cobra]

Wow, what do you do for a living?

[gooberhead320]

the reason the mountains are cold is because of wind. the wind hits the mountain and goes up. the air is hot and when it rises too quickly is what also gives precipitation.

the reason seattle is mostly rainy. the wind comes off of the ocean and climbs altitude and precipitates.

[XTCNAGT]

Magic.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by XTCNAGT Magic.

+1

[v606er]

As you go higher and higher up in the atmosphere, the temperature rises and falls. If at ground level it is 60*, then going up to about 10 miles, the temperature will steadily drop to ~ -80*, but then it starts rising again, and at 50 miles, it will be ~40* and then the temp starts dropping again while the altitude goes to 90 miles, which will be about -120*, and then the temp rises to 120* at about 120miles about the surface of the earth.

This is all b/c of how thick the atmosphere is, and how much solar radiation is absorbed by those atmospheric particles.

[Arsenal]

Originally Posted by XTCNAGT Magic.

What opens my garage door?

[Arsenal]

Also, you are the most bad ass 5th grade teacher ever. lol

[mattstang]

[JBIGBOOTSY]

Cause the source of heat is hotter.

[Breakout]

Originally Posted by Arsenal What opens my garage door?

that's me trying to sneak in

[Arsenal]

[XTCNAGT]

Originally Posted by Arsenal What opens my garage door?

Elves.

[leena bo beena]

higher altitude = lower air pressure = lower temperature



HowStuffWorks "Why is it colder at the top of a mountain than it is at sea level?"

[Ninjawafers!]

Chuck Norris

[XTCNAGT]

I'm sticking with magic.

Final answer.

[JBIGBOOTSY]

Then why is it colder at the bottom of a body of water?



Because its farther from its heat source.

[2006GTARPD3]

Originally Posted by 3.8Coastie Chuck Norris

YEEESSSS?

[vastang757]

Originally Posted by XTCNAGT Magic.

Originally Posted by Cricket +1

+2