How are air molecules related to air pressure? How are air molecules related to air pressure? High pressure is created when air molecules are packed in closely, and low pressure occurs when they spread apart. Low pressure is created when air molecules are packed in closely, and high pressure occurs when they spread apart.

That’s right! When air molecules are close together, the air pressure is high, and when the molecules are further apart, the air pressure is low.

Sorry, that’s not correct. We’ll help! Gas molecules are naturally energetic, bouncing off nearby walls or other gas molecules. When these molecules are bunched up, more of that energy is contained in one place, resulting in higher pressure. Likewise, when gas molecules are spread out, it results in lower pressure. When pockets of high and low pressure form, they are referred to as compression and rarefaction.