TeXes Science Practice Test

If the atmosphere were twice as thick, what would happen to your weight?

1. Your weight would be higher

2. Your weight would be the same

3. Your weight would be lower

4. Your weight would fluctuate

The correct answer is: Your weight would be lower

In understanding how a thicker atmosphere affects weight, it’s important to clarify the concept of weight versus mass. Weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object, which is determined by both the mass of the object and the acceleration due to gravity. When considering a thicker atmosphere, there are various factors at play regarding buoyancy and air pressure rather than a direct increase in gravitational pull. If the atmosphere were to double in thickness, it implies that there are greater amounts of air molecules exerting pressure and potentially increasing the buoyant force acting on objects. However, this change does not influence gravitational force itself, which remains constant relative to the mass of the object and the mass of the Earth. Therefore, while the buoyant force could make objects feel lighter in a denser medium, the actual weight (which is a factor of gravitational force) would not decrease in a standard gravitational environment. The confusion might arise from mixing gravitational effects with buoyancy influences, but in reality, under a thicker atmosphere, the weight remains unchanged as gravity does not depend on atmospheric characteristics. Thus, weight would logically be the same, supporting the understanding that weight, as defined, does not fluctuate simply due to the atmospheric variations described.