If a volume of air is diverging, what must happen to its total mass?

• A. It must stay the same
• B. It must increase
• C. It must decrease
• D. It must fluctuate

Answer: (C)

When analyzing the behavior of a diverging volume of air, it's important to consider the principles of mass conservation and the behavior of air flows. In a diverging air mass, particularly in a larger-scale atmospheric context, the air is spreading out away from a central point or area. As air diverges, it expands and the total density of the air in that volume decreases, which typically indicates that some of the air must be leaving that region.

Since the air is diverging, it implies a reduction in the concentration of air particles within that volume. Consequently, as the density decreases, the total mass of the air must also decrease to maintain the balance of mass in the surrounding regions unless there is an influx of air from elsewhere. This principle aligns with the law of conservation of mass, which dictates that in the absences of additional air being introduced, the mass must drop as the air diverges.

Thus, as the air moves away and creates a more expansive environment, the overall mass of that specific volume of air decreases, making the understanding of air divergence crucial in meteorological studies and applications.