|
Air takes up space and has weight. It is made of a
mixture of different gases which changes with altitude. At the surface
of the Earth, air is a mixture of the gases including nitrogen, oxygen,
argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and various other rare gases. The
percentage of carbon dioxide varies slightly depending on the presence
of vegetation. There are also traces of ammonia, hydrogen
sulfide, oxides, sulfur dioxide, and other gases. The percentage of dry
air varies little at different locations on the Earth's surface.
However, as you travel upward in the atmosphere
the percentage of the gases changes. At 800 km there is only hydrogen
and helium in about equal proportions.
Changing percentages of air with altitude
|
|
Gas (Symbol) |
Percentage |
|
Nitrogen (N) |
78.03 |
|
Oxygen (O) |
20.99 |
|
Argon (Ar) |
.94 |
|
Carbon dioxide (CO2). |
.035 -.04 |
|
Hydrogen (H) |
.01 |
|
Neon (Ne) |
.012 |
|
Helium (He) |
.0005 |
|
Krypton (Kr) |
.0001 |
|
Ozone (O3) |
.00006 |
|
Xenon (Xe) |
.000009 |
|
