Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Help! Why does it get colder the higher the altitude?

Lox · 09-26-2002, 08:13 AM

In regards to PV=nRT: Can you really treat the atmosphere as one volume? You are comparing P and T differences within that volume. It's been a while since I took Chem, but I think you want to compare, say, one litre of air at 5000 meters with 1 litre of air at sea level. The answer works out the same (because we arbitrarly pick the same volume), but there is a subtle difference in the process. You still see a higher P, which leads to a higher T in the sea level air.

09-26-2002, 08:13 AM	#6
Lox Manshoon Join Date: July 15, 2002 Location: Los Angeles Age: 50 Posts: 213	In regards to PV=nRT: Can you really treat the atmosphere as one volume? You are comparing P and T differences within that volume. It's been a while since I took Chem, but I think you want to compare, say, one litre of air at 5000 meters with 1 litre of air at sea level. The answer works out the same (because we arbitrarly pick the same volume), but there is a subtle difference in the process. You still see a higher P, which leads to a higher T in the sea level air. __________________ [img]\"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/AngAvs/avatar6517_2.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /><br />A Thinking Monkey told me.