Exercises Lecture 2

The Standard Atmosphere

Prof. dr. ir. Jacco Hoekstra

Tim van Leeuwen
Delft University of Technology

A. Rose - CC - BY - NC - ND
 AE1110x - Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering

Exercise 1
What is not a reason for us to introduce a standard atmosphere?
We need a standard atmosphere:
A) to use as a model for simulation
B) for meaningful specification of aircraft performance
C) to know what the average Earth atmosphere is like
D) to define pressure and density altitude

Exercise 2
In the picture below you see the temperature profile of the International Standard Atmosphere
shown in the lecture. Label the different parts of the atmosphere (shown by the gray boxes) with
the correct names.

Figure 1: The temperature profile of the International Standard Atmosphere.

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 AE1110x - Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering

Exercise 3
Below you see the ’block of air’ we used in the lecture to derive our hydrostatic equation.

Figure 2: The block of air used in the derivation of the hydrostatic equation.

We know that this block is in vertical equilibrium, so ΣFup = ΣFdow n .

1) Based on the figure above and using the quantities indicated in this figure, give the expressions
for ΣFup and ΣFdow n .
2) What does the hydrostatic equation we can derive from this equilibrium look like?

Exercise 4
At some point in the combustion cycle of an engine, the temperature of a combusted air-fuel
mixture is 582 degrees Celsius. Given that the pressure in the mixture is 6.2 bar, determine the
density of the mixture (in kilogram per cubic metre).

Exercise 5
An aircraft flies at an altitude of 30,000 feet. Determine the air temperature (in [K]), air pressure
(in [Pa]) and air density (in [kg/m3 ]) at this altitude, according to the standard atmosphere.

Figure 3: The aircraft at 30,000 feet. Image courtesy of Joe Thomissen, CC - BY - ND

2 Exercises Lecture 2 - The Standard Atmosphere

 AE1110x - Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering

Exercise 6
The rate of climb of an aircraft is generally computed from pressure measurements. To illustrate
the principle behind this, consider the following question:
Suppose we launch a scientific rocket straight up from sea level (at standard conditions) with a
pressure measuring device attached to it. Given that in the first 12 seconds the rocket experiences
a 25% decrease in air pressure, what is the average speed (rate of climb) of the rocket in these
first 12 seconds?
A) 142.4 m/s
B) 163.8 m/s
C) 181.2 m/s
D) 196.7 m/s

Exercise 7
The hydrostatic equation holds not just for air, but for other fluids such as water (air, though it is a
gas, is often referred to as a ’fluid’) as well. In the case of water the equation becomes even easier,
as water (as opposed to air) can be treated as incompressible, meaning the density is constant.
Use a value of 1000 kilogram per cubic metre as density.
Using this information, compute the local pressure (in [Pa]) at 2.5 metres depth in a swimming
pool situated at 2400 metres altitude in the mountains. Assume a standard atmosphere.

Exercise 8
As encouraged to do during the lectures, the following exercises investigate what the atmospheric
properties were like at the altitude Mr. Baumgartner went to (38,969 m).
1) What is, according to the standard atmosphere, the temperature (in Kelvin) at 38,969 metres
altitude?
2) What is, according to the standard atmosphere, the air pressure (in Pascal) at 38,969 metres
altitude?
3) What is, according to the standard atmosphere, the air density (in kilograms per cubic metre)
at 38,969 metres altitude?

Exercise 9
Which of the following statements is correct?
A) The geometric altitude hG solves the hydrostatic equation with a constant g, the geopotential
altitude h takes the variation of g into account.
B) The geopotential altitude hG solves the hydrostatic equation with a constant g, the geometric
altitude h takes the variation of g into account.
C) The geometric altitude h solves the hydrostatic equation with a constant g, the geopotential
altitude hG takes the variation of g into account.
D) The geopotential altitude h solves the hydrostatic equation with a constant g, the geometric
altitude hG takes the variation of g into account.

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 AE1110x - Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering

Exercise 10
You are given the following two statements:
1) If an aircraft flies at a geometric altitude of 10,000 metres, its geopotential altitude is 9,978
metres.
2) If an aircraft flies at a geopotential altitude of 12,000 metres, its geometric altitude is 12,023
metres.
Which of the following is true?
A) Only statement 1 is true
B) Only statement 2 is true
C) Both statements are true
D) Both statements are false

Exercise 11
A spacecraft flies over Mars at a geopotential altitude of 80 kilometres. Determine its geometric
altitude (in metres).

Figure 4: An illustration of a spacecraft over Mars.

4 Exercises Lecture 2 - The Standard Atmosphere