Eli5 Why does air pressure push in all directions and not just down

Question

If air pressure is gravity pulling air down why does it also push up and to the sides?

In: 0

Answer 1

Each air molecule has energy, and that energy makes them bounce off each other. Air temperature is basically just a measure of how hard molecules are bouncing off the thermometer. They get that energy from the sun or other things that give off heat and hang onto it until they bounce off something that will absorb that energy. Gravity still definitely pulls the molecules down but they are way too bouncy to just get crushed. But it is also why the air is way thicker at sea level than on the top of a mountain