Lesson T3.1.3

T3.1.3 Atmospheric pressure and height Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T3.1.3, Atmospheric pressure and height: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 3: Pressure, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What causes atmospheric pressure?

    • A magnetic force from the Earth's core, which pulls the air down towards the surface below
    • Sunlight heating the ground directly, which causes the air above it to press down strongly
    • The weight of the air above pressing down on a surface
    • Gas molecules moving in one direction only, which pushes everything along the ground below

  2. What happens to atmospheric pressure as you climb a mountain?

    • It decreases, because there is less air above you.
    • It increases, because gravity is stronger at height and pulls the air down more strongly.
    • It increases, because the air becomes denser and heavier as the height above sea level rises.
    • It stays exactly the same at all heights, because the atmosphere has a constant weight everywhere.

  3. Why do people's ears pop during a flight as the aircraft climbs?

    • The aircraft's engines push air into the ears, which forces the eardrum to bulge outwards.
    • Air inside the ears freezes instantly as the plane climbs, which cracks the eardrum open.
    • Air pressure inside the ear differs from the lower pressure outside, so the eardrum moves.
    • The cabin air contains more oxygen than the air outside, which swells the ear canal open.

  4. What is the approximate atmospheric pressure at sea level?

    • About 100 000 Pa (about 100 kPa)
    • About 100 Pa, which is far too low for the air pressure experienced at sea level in reality
    • About 10 Pa, which is roughly the pressure exerted by a few sheets of paper on a desk
    • About 1 000 000 Pa, which is roughly the pressure found deep inside a very deep ocean trench

  5. Why does a crisp packet swell up when it is taken to the top of a mountain?

    • The packet gains weight from the high-altitude air, which makes its contents press outwards.
    • The outside pressure is lower, so the gas inside pushes the packet out.
    • The crisps absorb oxygen from the thin air at height, which makes them expand and push the bag.
    • The air inside the packet cools and expands, so the packet swells as the temperature drops.

  6. In which directions does atmospheric pressure act?

    • In all directions
    • Only upwards, because the air rises from the ground and lifts everything above the surface
    • Only downwards, because the weight of the air above is the only source of atmospheric pressure
    • Only sideways, because the air pushes outwards against the walls of the atmosphere at each side

  7. How does a vacuum cleaner pick up dust?

    • It creates extra weight that pulls the dust in, which makes the dust drop into the cleaner.
    • It makes the air heavier than the dust, so the dust is pushed along the floor and in.
    • It pulls the dust in by magnetism, because a fan inside the cleaner acts like a magnet.
    • Lower pressure inside the cleaner lets atmospheric pressure push the dust and air in.

  8. Why does liquid rise up a straw when you suck on it?

    • The pressure in your mouth falls, so atmospheric pressure pushes the liquid up the straw.
    • Gravity pulls the liquid upwards inside the straw, which is why it climbs when sucked.
    • The straw pulls the liquid upwards by its own force, which is created by sucking on the straw.
    • Liquid is lighter than air, so the liquid simply rises up the straw as the air sinks down.

  9. Which statement about air near the ground is correct?

    • Air near the ground is compressed by the air above it, so it is denser.
    • The top of the atmosphere presses hardest on the ground, which is why air near the top is compressed.
    • Air density does not depend on height at all, because all air is the same wherever it is found.
    • Air at high altitudes is denser than air at sea level, because the upper air has more weight.

  10. Which instrument is used to measure air pressure?

    • A barometer
    • A newtonmeter, which measures the force applied to a spring that is being stretched
    • An ammeter, which measures the electric current flowing through a circuit of wires
    • A thermometer, which measures the temperature of the air around the instrument itself

  11. A weather report says that the air pressure is falling. What does this often suggest?

    • The temperature will rise sharply within the hour, as the falling pressure heats the air.
    • The weather may become windier or wetter.
    • The Moon is moving closer to the Earth, which lowers the pressure at the surface of the planet.
    • The weather will certainly be clear and calm all day, with no change in the sky overhead.

  12. A hot-air balloon rises and its envelope gets bigger. Why?

    • The gas inside becomes heavier as it rises, which forces the envelope to stretch outwards.
    • The air inside makes the balloon shrink as it rises, which makes the envelope look bigger.
    • The outside pressure falls with height, so the gas inside expands.
    • The balloon loses weight as it rises, which lets the envelope expand under its own strength.

  13. How does atmospheric pressure change with height?

    • It decreases as height increases.
    • It falls and then rises again at high altitudes, because the upper air is pulled back down.
    • It increases as height increases, because the upper air is more tightly packed together.
    • It stays constant all the way to the top, because the atmosphere is evenly spread out.

  14. Why do astronauts need pressurised suits in space?

    • Space is filled with heavy air that would crush the body, so the suit keeps the air away.
    • Space has too much gravity for the body to tolerate, so the suit supports the astronaut's weight.
    • Space is too hot to work in without protection, so the suit keeps the astronaut from overheating.
    • Space has almost no atmospheric pressure, so the body needs pressure from outside.

  15. Why do mountain climbers sometimes need extra oxygen?

    • Air becomes hotter as the height increases, which means the oxygen is used up more quickly.
    • Oxygen becomes heavier at high altitudes, so each breath brings in less of the gas overall.
    • Lower air pressure means fewer oxygen molecules enter the lungs with each breath.
    • Oxygen is removed from the air by sunlight higher up, which leaves very little for climbers.

  16. Roughly what is the weight of the air above a 1 m² area at sea level?

    • About 100 N, which is far too small for the weight of a whole column of air above one square metre
    • About 1 N, which is the weight of a small apple sitting on one square metre of the ground
    • About 100 000 N
    • About 10 000 000 N, which overstates the weight of air above a square metre by a factor of one hundred

  17. A card is placed over a glass full of water, which is then turned upside down. Why does the water stay in the glass?

    • The card is stuck to the glass with glue, which holds the water in the glass when inverted.
    • Water has no weight when it is inside a glass, so it does not fall out when turned over.
    • Water sticks to the air and cannot fall, which keeps the water inside the glass when inverted.
    • Atmospheric pressure pushing up on the card is greater than the weight of the water.

  18. What happens to the pressure inside a sealed tin as air is pumped out of it?

    • It rises, because more air is added to the tin as the pumping action pushes air in.
    • It falls, creating a partial vacuum inside the tin.
    • It falls to zero outside the tin, because the pump removes all of the air around it too.
    • It stays unchanged while the air is pumped out, because the tin is sealed against change.

  19. Which quantity decreases as you go up a mountain?

    • The total mass of your body, which is fixed and does not change with height above sea level
    • The weight of the air above you
    • The gravitational field strength near the surface, which changes noticeably over a few metres
    • Your own body mass, which stays the same wherever you climb on the mountain

  20. A sealed bottle is taken from sea level to the top of a mountain. Which change is most likely?

    • The bottle gains mass from the surrounding air, which is drawn into it as the air thins out.
    • The bottle shrinks, because the outside air gets heavier and squeezes the bottle tighter.
    • The bottle looks swollen, because the outside pressure is lower.
    • The bottle's contents become colder, but nothing else in the bottle or its shape is affected.

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