Earth’s atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude from a sea level pressure of 1000 millibars (a unit of pressure used by meteorologists). Letting z be the height above Earth’s surface (sea level) in km, the atmospheric pressure is modeled by p(z) = 1000e^-z/10.

a. Compute the pressure at the summit of Mt. Everest which has an elevation of roughly 10 km. Compare the pressure on Mt. Everest to the pressure at sea level.

b. Compute the average change in pressure in the first 5 km above Earth’s surface.

c. Compute the rate of change of the pressure at an elevation of 5 km.

d. Does p'(z) increase or decrease with z? Explain.

e. What is the meaning of

Transcribed Image Text:

lim p(z) = 0? Z- →0∞