Question

What happens when we take a partially filled ink pen to a higher altitude?

• A. The ink leaks outside
• B. The ink inside solidifies
• C. The density of the ink decreases
• D. The pen gets crushed

Answer 1

The correct option is A The ink leaks outside

As we move towards higher altitudes, the pressure, and density of air decreases. This is because of the decrease in weight of the air column as we go higher up.

A partially filled ink pen contains air in the empty space. The air present inside the ink pen, therefore, exerts a pressure equal to that of the atmospheric pressure. (If it doesn't, the ink pen would have been deformed due to uneven pressures on both sides of the ink pen)

When you take this pen to higher altitudes, the air inside the pen stills exerts the same pressure on the inside. However, the air outside the nib of the pen is now at lower pressure.

Thus, the air inside the partially filled pen pushes the ink outside causing it to leak.