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Pressure is about 1000 hPa at sea level and about 500 hPa at an altitude of 5.5 km. Why doesn’t this vertical pressure gradient cause permanent upward acceleration and motion?A. The upward pressure gradient force is balanced by gravity.B. The upward pressure gradient force is balanced by friction.C. The upward pressure gradient force is balanced by the Coriolis force.D. The upward pressure gradient force is too small to have any noticeable effect.E. Upward motion is prevented by the temperature inversion.

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Answer:

A. The upward pressure gradient force is balanced by gravity.

Explanation:

A. is correct because the pressure difference is actually generated by gravity. As in the following formula for the pressure at different points:

[tex]p = p_0 + \rho g h[/tex]

where [tex]p, p_0[/tex] are the pressure at 2 points, ρ is the density of the fluid, g is the gravitational constant, and h is the height difference.

B is incorrect because friction in air is too small to make an effect.

C is incorrect because the Coriolis force is horizontal, not vertical.

D is incorrect because a difference of 500 hPa = 50000 Pa, this is half of the atmospheric pressure.

E is incorrect because temperature cannot generate force.

The upward pressure gradient force is balanced by gravity.

The total pressure experienced by an object at any given altitude is calculated as follows;

[tex]P = P_o\ + \ \rho gh[/tex]

where;

  • [tex]P_o[/tex] is the atmospheric pressure
  • g is the acceleration due to gravity
  • h is altitude of the object
  • [tex]\rho[/tex] is the density of the of object

During a vertical upward motion, force of gravity acting on an object moving upwards is directed downwards which balances the upward pressure gradient.

Thus, we can conclude that the correct statement is, "the upward pressure gradient force is balanced by gravity".

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