# Why do we feel cold at mountain peaks?

according to the archimedes principle fluids having less density floats on fluids having more density. As hot air has less density than cold air ,so hot air should float on cold air. But in our atmosphere the tempreture decrease as we move in upward direction, but it should increase as hot air should float on cold air. why is it so?

Note by Vyom Chaturvedi
4 years, 9 months ago

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Assuming this is an ideal condition, we can apply the ideal gas law for gases

$$PV = nRT$$ where $$P$$ is pressure, $$V$$ is volume, $$n$$ is the amount in moles, $$R$$ is the gas constant, $$(R = 8.31)$$. And $$T$$ is the temperature of the air

Expressing this in $$T$$ will give us $$T = \frac{PV}{nR}$$ Since pressure and volume of gas both decrease as altitude increases, and amount of gas molecules remains constant, the equation shows that temperature decreases with increasing altitude

- 4 years, 9 months ago

Temperature does increase as you rise in altitude, but to a certain extent. There hits a point when the temperature starts to decrease (because outer space is cold, simply put). So temperature does increase, but by an insensible amount.

- 4 years, 9 months ago

but what is that point ? what is the limit of that point?

- 4 years, 5 months ago