The Standard Atmosphere

Hydrostatic Equation
Manometers and Barometers
The Standard Atmosphere
Altimeters
MAE 2
2
MAE 2
Hydrostatic Equation
The hydrostatic equation defines the force balance for a fluid particle at rest.
x
z
height =dh
pdpdA
p dA
g dhdA

F
z
=0=static
0=p dA pdp dAg dhdA
dp= g dh
0=p dApdAdp dAg dhdA
dp dA=g dhdA
p=pressure
=density
g=gravity
h=altitude
area=dA

MAE 2
Manometers
A manometer measures the pressure difference bet!een t!o ports or "essels.
dp= g dh

p
1
p
2
dp=

h
1
h
2
g dh

p
1
p
2
dp=g

h
1
h
2
dh
p
2
p
1
=g h
2
h
1

p
1
=pressure at port 1
p
2
=pressure at port 2
=density
g=gravity
h
1
=fluid height port 1 side
h
2
=fluid height port 2 side
p
2
p
1
h
2
h
1
constant density liquid
Honey!ell #ifferential
$ressure Sensor
2%$&&'A%#T( )* psi
+
MAE 2
Barometers
A barometer is formed by creatin, a "acuum -or other .no!n pressure/ in one of the
pressure "essels.
p
2
p
1
=g h
2
h
1

p
2
=g h
2
h
1

p
2
p
1
=0
h
2
h
1
constant density liquid
Honey!ell Absolute
$ressure Sensor
S&&0ASMT( 0 psia
*
MAE 2
Standard Atmosphere
The standard atmosphere is defined by a temperature profile "ariation !ith altitude



Temperature
A
l
t
i
t
u
d
e
1radient 2e,ions
3sothermal 2e,ions
-&onstant Temperature/
Base for
1radient
2e,ion abo"e
Base for
3sothermal
2e,ion abo"e
troposphere
stratosphere
%
MAE 2
Isothemal Regions
&ombine the equation of state !ith the hydrostatic equation4
dp= g dh
dp
p
=
g dh
RT
=
g
RT
dh
p=RT

p
1
p
1
p
dp=
g
0
RT

h
1
h
dh
p
p
1
=exp
[
g hh
1

RT
]

1
=exp
[
g hh
1

RT
]
T =T
1
3sothermal
p=pressure at altitude
p
1
=pressure at base
h=altitude of interest
h
1
=altitude at base
=density at altitude

1
=density at base
T =temperature at altitude
T
1
=temperature at base
5
MAE 2
Gradient Regions
Start a,ain !ith the equation of state and the hydrostatic equation
dp
p
=
g
RT
dh=
g
RT
dh
dT
dT=
g
aRT
dT
a=
dT
dh
=lapse rate

p
1
p
1
p
dp=
g
aR

T
1
T
1
T
dT
p
p
1
=

T
T
1

g / aR

1
=

T
T
1

[1g / aR]
T =T
1
ahh
1

1radient
p=pressure at altitude
p
1
=pressure at base
h=altitude of interest
h
1
=altitude at base
=density at altitude

1
=density at base
T =temperature at altitude
T
1
=temperature at base
6
MAE 2
Base Points
The base of first ,radient re,ion -troposphere/ is defined a sea7le"el4
The first isothermal re,ion -stratosphere/ starts at the base altitude of4
a
1
=6.510
3
K / m
p
1
=1.0132510
5
N / m
2
=2116.2lb/ ft
2

1
=1.2250 kg / m
3
=0.002377 slug / ft
3
T
1
=288.16 K=518.6 R
o
h
1
=11!000m=36!00 ft
T =T
1
ahh
1
=288.160.006511!0000=216.7 K
The temperature in the first isothermal re,ion !ill be the same as the temperature at the
top of the first ,radient re,ion.
T
1
=216.66 K=30.0 R
o
top of ,radient4
isothermal4
8
MAE 2
Standard Atmosphere Table

0
=1.225 kg/ m
3

0
=0.002377slug / ft
3
)0
MAE 2
Altimeters
$ressure altitude is the altitude at !hich the measured pressure is the same as the
standard atmosphere pressure.
A standard aircraft altimeter reports pressure altitude if the reference pressure is set
to the standard sea7le"el pressure.
Timex Expedition !atch !ith
altimeter( barometer( compass(
and thermometer
Typical aircraft
coc.pit altimeter
))
MAE 2
Resources
9ourney Throu,h the Atmosphere -BB&/
http4::!!!.youtube.com:!atch;"<&er9b=7dm0
A3AA Aerospace #esi,n En,ineers 1uide( American 3nstitute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics( 200.
Eboo. at >&S# ?ibrary4 http4::ro,er.ucsd.edu460:record<b%+%26*@S8
Standard Atmosphere tables are listed in Section 8.
Standard Atmosphere &alculator
http4::!!!.aerospace!eb.or,:desi,n:scripts:atmosphere: