Once heated, what happens to air?

When air is heated, it expands due to the increase in kinetic energy of the air molecules. As the temperature rises, the molecules move faster and collide more frequently, causing them to spread apart. This expansion of air is a fundamental principle in thermodynamics and physics, affecting various phenomena such as weather patterns and the behavior of hot air balloons.

The concept of expansion can also be observed in many practical applications, such as the movement of air in heating systems or how warm air rises in a room. This understanding of thermal expansion is critical in fields related to municipal fire and police safety, as it influences fire behavior, smoke movement, and ventilation techniques during emergency response scenarios.