FUNDAMENTALS OF

AERODYNAMICS
(AENG 321-7B)
Part 2
Temperature Variation with Altitude based
from Sea Level up to Tropopause (11 km)
Formula:
T = T0 + a (h – h0) or
T = T0 + ah (since h0 = 0)
Where:
T = Temperature at any altitude above sea level up to tropopause
(11 km) in °R or °K
a = lapse rate (-0.003566 °R /ft or -0.00651°K /m or -6.51 °K /km)
T0 = Standard Temperature 519 °R or 288 °K
h0 = Altitude at Sea Level in ft or km or meters
h = Any altitude above Sea Level up to Tropopause (11 km) in ft or
km or meters
Example #1
Find the temperature at 15,000 feet altitude in
standard atmosphere.
Given:
h = 15,000 ft
@ STD Atmosphere
Required:
Temperature (T)
Solution:
T = T0 + ah
T = 519 °R + (-0.003566 °R/ft)(15,000 ft)
Answer:
T = 465.51 °R x (288 °K / 519 °R) = 258.32 °K
Example #2
Find the temperature at 8 km altitude in standard
atmosphere.
Given:
h = 8 km
@ STD Atmosphere
Required:
Temperature (T)
Solution:
T = T0 + ah
T = 288 °K + (-6.51 °K/km)(8 km)
Answer:
T = 235.92 °K
 Pressure Variation with Altitude based from
Sea Level up to Tropopause (11 km)

Where:
Area (A) = dxdy
Mass (M) = ρV = ρdxdydh
Force (Fg) = ma = mg = ρgdxdydh
Pressure Variation with Altitude . . . (cont)
Pressure Variation with Altitude . . . (cont)
Pressure Variation with Altitude . . . (cont)
Pressure Variation with Altitude . . . (cont)
Pressure Variation with Altitude . . . (cont)
Pressure Variation with Altitude . . . (cont)
Formula:

Where:
P = Pressure at any altitude above sea level up t tropopause (11 km.) in
lb/ft2 or N/m2
P0 = 2116.8 lb/ft2 or 101325 N/m2 (also called Pascal, Pa)
a = lapse rate (-0.003566 °R /ft or -0.00651°K /m or -6.51 °K /km)
T0 = Standard Temperature 519 °R or 288 °K
h = Any altitude above Sea Level up to Tropopause (11 km) in ft or km or
meters
Example #1
Find the pressure at 15,000 feet altitude in standard
atmosphere.
Given:
h = 15,000 ft
@ STD Atmosphere
Required:
Pressure (P)

Answer:
P = 1,194.55 lb/ft2 x (101,325 Pa / 2,116.8 lb/ft2 ) = 57,179.60 Pa
Example #2
Find the pressure at 8 km altitude in standard
atmosphere.
Given:
h = 8 km.
@ STD Atmosphere
Required:
Pressure (P)

Answer:
P = 35,485.81 Pa x (2,116.8 lb/ft2 / 101,325 Pa) = 741.34 lb/ft2
Density Variation with Altitude based from
Sea Level up to Tropopause (11 km)
Density Variation with Altitude . . . (cont)
Density Variation with Altitude . . . (cont)

Formula:
Example #1
Find the density at 15,000 feet altitude in standard
atmosphere.
Given:
h = 15,000 ft
@ STD Atmosphere

Answer:
ρ = 0.001496 slug/ft3 x (1.225 Kg/m3 / 0.002377 slug/ft3 ) = 0.771 Kg/m3
Example #2
Find the density at 8 km altitude in standard
atmosphere.
Given:
h = 8 km.
@ STD Atmosphere

Answer:
ρ = 0.524 kg/m3 x (0.002377 slug/ft3 / 1.225 kg/m3) = 0.001017 slug/ft3
 Relation between Pressure, Density, and
Temperature Variation with Altitude based
from Sea Level up to Tropopause (11 km)