ALTIMETER ALTIMETER

What is altimeter? What is altimeter?

The The altimeter altimeter is an instrument which is an instrument which
measures vertical distance with respect to measures vertical distance with respect to
a reference level. a reference level. The altimeter is an The altimeter is an
instrument that measures the altitude of instrument that measures the altitude of
the land surface or any object such as an the land surface or any object such as an
airplane. airplane. Louis Paul Cailletet Louis Paul Cailletet was the was the
French physicist who invented the French physicist who invented the
altimeter and the high altimeter and the high- -pressure pressure
manometer. manometer.
How it WORKS? How it WORKS?
Inside of an altimeter lies the same Inside of an altimeter lies the same
equipment found in barometers. They equipment found in barometers. They
measure the amount of static air pressure measure the amount of static air pressure
exerted on the altimeter to determine the exerted on the altimeter to determine the
height above sea level. Static air pressure height above sea level. Static air pressure
measures the amount of pressure exerted measures the amount of pressure exerted
by the atmosphere at a particular altitude by the atmosphere at a particular altitude
Essentially, it can be thought of as the Essentially, it can be thought of as the
"weight" of the air above a person. The "weight" of the air above a person. The
higher one goes, the lower the air higher one goes, the lower the air
pressure. pressure.
The aneroid capsule expands and contracts with The aneroid capsule expands and contracts with
changes in air pressure. changes in air pressure.
The aneroid capsule consists of a pre The aneroid capsule consists of a pre- -filled, filled,
sealed air chamber. Air inside the aneroid sealed air chamber. Air inside the aneroid
capsule remains at the barometric pressure at capsule remains at the barometric pressure at
sea level. A static vent line in the altimeter brings sea level. A static vent line in the altimeter brings
air from the outside to the aneroid capsule, and air from the outside to the aneroid capsule, and
the pressure causes the aneroid capsule to the pressure causes the aneroid capsule to
change in size depending on the amount of air change in size depending on the amount of air
pressure exerted on it. pressure exerted on it.
As the plane with the altimeter climbs, the As the plane with the altimeter climbs, the
barometric pressure drops, meaning the air barometric pressure drops, meaning the air
pressure inside the aneroid capsule is greater pressure inside the aneroid capsule is greater
than on the outside, and the capsule bulges. than on the outside, and the capsule bulges.
When descending, the exterior pressure When descending, the exterior pressure
increases, causing the aneroid capsule to increases, causing the aneroid capsule to
contract. A linkage mechanism translates this contract. A linkage mechanism translates this
movement in the size and shape of the aneroid movement in the size and shape of the aneroid
capsule to the pressure scale window (Kollsman capsule to the pressure scale window (Kollsman
window), which displays the altitude above sea window), which displays the altitude above sea
level based on the barometric pressure level based on the barometric pressure