8.

1 PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

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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

 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

PRESSURE

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
ISA

TEMPERATURE
15C 59F

PRESSURE
14.69 psi 29.92 in Hg 1013.25 milibar 101.325 kPa 1 atm

DENSITY
1.225 kg/m3

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.