PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

AERODYNAMICS
The study of objects in motion through
air and the forces that produce such

motion.

THE ATMOSPHERE

ATMOSPHERIC CONTENT
Composition of air : 78% - Nitrogen
21% - Oxygen
1% - Other Gases (argon, carbon
dioxide, hydrogen, helium, neon,

etc.)
OXYGEN
Human breathing

Fuel combustion keep aircraft flying

THE ATMOSPHERE

PRESSURE

Air has weight

Pressure weight (force)
pressing down on a given
area
Weight decreases with
increasing height
Sea level atmospheric
pressure under standard
condition ( 15 C / 59 F )

14.69 psi or
29.92 in Hg. or
1013.25 millibars or
101.325 kPa

PRESSURE

Column of air
extending from
sea level upward

Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude

PRESSURE

TEMPERATURE

Sun radiate
heat
through
atmosphere
Earth absorb
heat (increase
air temperature
on surface)

o Decrease with increasing altitude

o Constant (-55C) above 55 000 ft (12
km)
o Decrease at a lapse rate of 1.98C
per 1000 ft
o Standard day temperature at sea
level 15C / 59F
o Temperature does not affect much
on aircraft in flight but it does affect
the variations of humidity
o Humidity affect flight operation

Warm air rises, expands, cools

TEMPERATURE

Change of temperature with height

TEMPERATURE

Effect of temperature on take-off run and Rate of Climb

COLD
WINTER
DAY

HOT
SUMMER
DAY

Aircraft requires longer runway for takeoff on damp day than on dry day
HUMIDITY

DENSITY
Air is compressible
Compressed air more
dense (less space
occupied by air)
Density = measure of air
thickness
Density varies directly
with pressure
Low altitude more
dense
High altitude less
dense

Density at sea level is

1.225 kg/m3
DENSITY

Density affect the aerodynamic performance of aircraft

ALTITUDE

HIGH Altitude
LESS Density
Greater speed
and distance

LOW Altitude
GREATER Density
Same Horsepower
Less speed
and less distance

DENSITY

HUMIDITY
Amount of water vapor in air (condition of moisture or
dampness)
Temperature influence the maximum amount of water
vapor that the air can hold
Higher air temperature absorb more water vapour
Density of air varies with humidity

Density on damp day (hot day) is less than density on dry

day (cold day)
HUMIDITY

THE ATMOSPHERE
The whole mass of air extending upward for
hundreds of miles from the earth

(320 km in depth)

THE ATMOSPHERE

LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE

THE ATMOSPHERE

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ATMOSPHERE (ISA)
o Atmospheric conditions
vary around the world
due to changes in the
properties of the
atmosphere
o Established to provide a
common reference for
temperature, pressure
and density at varying
altitudes

TEMPERATURE
15C
59F

PRESSURE

14.69 psi
29.92 in Hg
1013.25 milibar
101.325 kPa
1 atm

DENSITY
1.225 kg/m3
ISA

Q CODE
To similarise the altitude reference of all aircraft
Due to variable atmospheric condition around the
world
3 type of code :
QFE
QNH
QNE

: aircraft height above airfield

: Aircraft height above sea level (local condition)
: Aircraft height above sea level (ISA condition)

AIRSPEED
Speed of sound is 331m/s at sea level with
temperature 0oc
Mach number as reference to speed of sound at
that altitude
Speed of sound reduce with reduce in temperature
Indicated Airspeed(IAS) is direct reading from
gauge measured by dynamic air pressure of aircraft
True airspeed(TAS) is true flying speed base on
actual atmospheric condition.
IAS is less thab TAS in altitude.