The principle that gases form layers according to temperature does NOT apply to?

The principle that gases form layers according to temperature is specifically related to how different temperatures affect the density of gases. In general, warmer air is less dense and tends to rise, while cooler air is denser and sinks, leading to the formation of distinct layers.

Heat stratification and thermal layering both directly pertain to this phenomenon, as they describe the arrangement of air or other gases in layers based on temperature differences. Thermal balance involves achieving an equilibrium in temperature throughout a space but does not negate the layering effect caused by temperature differences.

Heat imbalance, on the other hand, refers to a situation where there are significant temperature disparities present in an environment, which can lead to turbulence and disrupt the layering effect. However, the principle itself, which states that gases form layers based on temperature differences, is most notably absent when discussing heat imbalance. In such situations, the layers do not stabilize as they would under balanced thermal conditions, making heat imbalance an exception to the application of this principle.