PHYSICS 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
atmosphe
Earth absorb
re
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
Warm air orises, expands, cools
Humidity affect flight
operation
TEMPERATURE

Change of temperature with height

TEMPERATURE

Effect of temperature on take-off run and

Rate of Climb
COLD
WINTER
DAY

HOT
SUMME
R
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
ISA
density at varying

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 : aircraft height above airfield
QNH : Aircraft height above sea level (local
condition)
QNE : 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.