Drone Pilot Practice Exam

When air rises, it generally:

1. Contracts

2. Expands

3. Becomes denser

4. Increases in temperature

The correct answer is: Expands

When air rises, it generally expands due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure at higher altitudes. As air ascends, the pressure surrounding it decreases, allowing the air molecules to spread out. This expansion is a fundamental principle in meteorology and is related to the behavior of gases under changing pressure conditions. As air expands, it also cools, which is important for cloud formation and weather patterns. This cooling occurs because the energy that the air molecules have is used to do work against the pressure surrounding them, leading to a drop in temperature as they move apart. Therefore, the concept of rising air expanding is vital to understanding various atmospheric phenomena, including convection, the formation of clouds, and the movement of weather systems.