If...

[Plastic]

If heat rises, why are the peaks of mountains always covered in snow and ice?

[Pyro]

Because hot air can only go so far before becoming the same temp as the air surrounding it, and only the ground really heats up the air. Even though hot air is lighter than cold air, it only rises so far before cooling down. This is silly threads, what do you expect? Quantum Physics? I bet air pressure and whatnot also plays a role ...

[Pyro]

Hey ... I've got more posts than plastic >:)

[-=BeLgaRiOn=-]

Air cools adiabatically as it ascends. There are less particles higher up in the atmosphere, resulting in less particle collisions and less transfer of kinetic energy resulting in less heat energy. Therefore, it is colder the higher you go up :P . Also terrestrial radiation from the sun only warms the land and this heat is in turn transferred to the air by radiation, convection and conduction. The higher you are up away from the highest concentration of this radiation, the colder it will be. Snow also reflects most of the sunlight (albido) resulting in less heat energy being available to heat the mountain tops.

[Plato]

What you have ommited is the fact that as air heats up, its density decreases. Thusly following from Archimedes` priniciple, its bouyancy force will increase causing it to rise. This is the reason why hot air rises. Following from this, Jedi`s explanation explains why the hot air does not reach great heights.

[LeG@cY]

No no no, the correct answer is:

Who gives a fuck :D

[Cataphract]

LOL @ Legacy! ^5

[-=BeLgaRiOn=-]

Bwahahahaha.

[bl@d3]

I think u'all need to go to the local service station and have the air pressure in your heads adjusted! :)