What is the weight of the Earth’s atmosphere?
We often think that the air is weightless but it isn't. The whole weight of the Earth's atmosphere is about 5.5 quadrillion tons (55 followed by 14 zeros). Air is heaviest at sea level because the air molecules are pressed together. It also presses against our bodies but we have pressure inside, so we don't feel it. When you move farther away from the earth's surface the atmosphere gets lighter and lighter because there is more room between air molecules. The weight of the air decreases and so does air pressure.
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8 Comments
Rafi Manory
The pressure on earth is 1 atmosphere, i.e. 1 kg/cm2. This means that the column of air over 1cm2 weighs 1 kg. The diameter of the earth is 40,000 kilometer, i.e. 40 million m, i.e., 4x10^9 cm and the radius is half that. The area is 4xpixr^2. 1 t = 1000 kg and this multiplied by the area is 55 x 10^12 kg which is 55 X 10^9 t.
Marian Spitzig
And how did they guess at this number???
dick aspel
Obvious answer but has never and will never be quantified. Pure speculation.
Christopher Skinner
Clouds weigh a lot, so from there I just took a quantum leap.
Carlos Cruz
What scale was used? It had to be huge!!
Josephine White
Wow
Devan Lampkin
Damm.... Talkin about Brain Matter?
Anthony Griffin
The earth's atmosphere serves the planet in soo manys ways, that it makes one lose sight, on the effects that it has on humans, air, & sea. That's pretty impressive information, that is brought to one's attention.