n d e

k h a
L o
n j a
Air Density R u
h i n
S a c
a pt
y C
B
Density
n d e
• Density of air is a measure of the
k h a
number of molecules in a fixed
L o
a
area(generally cubic meter), and is
defined as – Mass per unit volume.
• In other words How much material is
u n j
inside a space.

in R
h
• It may be expressed in three main
ways:-

S a c
• Grams per cubic meter.(g/m3)

pt
• A percentage of the standard
a
C
atmosphere to which the observed

y
density corresponds- Density altitude.

B
Density
n d e
• Relative Density
k h a
• Relative density is the prevailing
L o
density, expressed as a percentage
n j a
of mean sea level density in ISA.
R u
in
• For example, if the prevailing

a c h
density is 1000 g/m3, then
comparing this to the ISA mean

t S
sea level density of 1225 g/m3 we
p
a
can say that the prevailing density

y C
is 82% of ISA mean sea level
density.
B
 Density
n d e
k h a
o
• Density Altitude
• Density altitude is the altitude in the
ISA at which the current observed
j a L
density would occur.
u n
• For example, if the prevailing or
observed density is 612 g/m3 then this
in R
c h
represents a density that is found at

a
approximately 20,000 ft in ISA.

t S
• Therefore, the location of the
p
a
observed density is described as having

C
a density altitude of 20,000 ft.

B y
“Density Altitude” can be calculated by adjusting the pressure altitude for non-standard temperature.
 Density
n d e
k h a
o
• DENSITY ALTITUDE = PRESSURE ALTITUDE +/- (ISA DEVIATION X 118.8)

j a L
u n
• An increase in temperature and an increase in humidity cause a
reduction in air density.
in R
a c h
• Thus in hot and humid conditions the density altitude at a particular
location may be significantly higher than the actual altitude.

pt S
C a
B y
Pressure can change density
n d e
k h a
• Lets first look at how can pressure change density.

L o
a
• If we look at the diagram we can see a mass within a
volume.
• As we increase the pressure surrounding the parcel
u n j
• This causes the density to increase.
in R
of air , you can see that it gets compressed.

c h
• Keeping the mass same reducing the volume.

a
t S
• Conversely if we reduce the surrounding pressure,

p
a
parcel will expand and the density will reduce.

C
• Again the mass is the same but this time volume has

y
been increased.

B
• Physical experiments confirms that density is equal
to pressure.
Effect of Changes of Pressure on Density
n d e
k h a
L o
• As pressure is increased, the air will be compressed which reduces

a
the volume and increases the density.

increase the volume and decrease theu n j

• Likewise, if pressure is decreased, the air will expand which will

• We can therefore say that: in

R density.

a c h
S
• DENSITY α PRESSURE (DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL )

a p t
y C
B
Effect of Temperature
n d e
k h a
• Looking at the diagram as we heat the
L o
a
parcel of air particles gets extracted and
cause the parcel to expand.

u n j
R
• This reduces the density , mass is the

in
same.

a c h
• But Volume of air is increasing.

t S
• Conversely if we cool parcel down it will
p
C a
shrink and the density will increase.
• Again the mass remaining same but we

B y
are reducing the Volume.
• We can therefore say that density is
inversely proportional to Temperature.
 e
Effect of change of Temperature on Density
d
h an
ok
• If a volume of air is heated it will expand and the mass of air
L
ja
contained in unit volume will be less.

u n
• Thus density will decrease with an increase in temperature and we
can say:
in R
a c h
• DENSITY α 1/TEMPERATURE (INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL)

pt S
C a
B y
Effect of change of Humidity on Density
n d e
k h a
o
• Humidity is a measure of the water vapour content of the air.

a L
• Dry air mainly consists of Nitrogen (N2) and Oxygen (O2).
j
• Avogadro’s Law states that:
u n
in R
• “Equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure

a c h
contain the same no. of molecules regardless of their chemical nature
and physical properties”.

pt S
• The no. of molecules of any gas present in a volume is same for the

C a
lightest gas (Hydrogen) as for a heavy gas (CO2).

B y
Effect of change of Humidity on Density
n d e
k h a
L o
• Hence, if we add water vapour (H2O) to a volume of dry
the total no. of molecules must remain the same; either
air then, as
N2 or O2

n j
molecules are removed in order to replace thema water molecules.

R u
• A molecule of water, H2O, weighs less than molecules of N2 and O2

i n
(5/8 of corresponding value of dry air).
th

c h
• Therefore, an atmosphere with
a
very high humidity will have a lower

S
total mass than a dry atmosphere.

p t
• Thus density will decrease
a
with an increase in humidity and we can

C
say:-

B y DENSITY α 1/HUMIDITY (Inversely Proportional)

Effect of change of Altitude on Density
n d e
k h a
o
• Having seen varying effect of temperature and

L
pressure on density lets now look at effect of

j a
altitude on density.

n
• As Altitude increases temperature falls density

u
increases.

R
• As altitude increases pressure falls density

in
decreases.

a c h
• What does happen to density with altitude?

S
• The overriding effect is the change of pressure the

pt
reduction of pressure reduces the density more

a
than reducing temperature causes the density to

C
increase.

y
• Since, pressure is the dominant effect , it follows.

B
• Because pressure decreases with increasing
altitude. So, will Density…
• Hence we see that Relative Density Decreases with
increasing Altitude.
Effect of change of Altitude on Density
n d e
k h a
L o
• As altitude increases, the effect of pressure decreasing causes density

a
to fall despite the fact that temperature decreases.

u n j
• Therefore, the effect is for the density to decrease with an increase of
height.
i n R
and 10% at 60,000 ft) ch
• Density (ρ) = 100% at sea level, 50% at 20,000 ft, 25% at 40,000 ft

S a
hPa change inp t
• * Density will change
a
by 1% for a 3°C change in temperature or a 10

C
pressure.

B y
 Effect of Change of Latitude on Density
n d e
k h a
L o
a
• Looking at just the surface
conditions, looking at the

u n j
R
diagram …

in
• At the poles temperature is
generally colder.

a c h
• And pressure generally higher
at the equator.
pt S
C a
B y
Effect of Change of Latitude on Density
n d e
k h a
• The combined effect is at the surface, the
L o
j a
density of the poles is greater than the

n
equator.
• However , but with altitude the effect is

R u
in
different.

h
• If we remember from the pressure lesson

a c
we stated that cold air increases the

S
pressure lapse rate with altitude.

a pt
• In other words pressure falls more rapidly
with height in cold air than in warm air.

y C
• Because density is commonly linked with
pressure, it therefore follows that in cold

B
air density would decrease more rapidly
altitude than in warm air.
Effect of Change of Latitude on Density
n d e
k h a
• As a result of this over the
L o
a
poles where we have cold
air the density at a high

u n j
R
flight level would be

in
much lower at same flight
level over the equator.

a c h
t S
• At high altitude we can
p
C a
see that density
decreases with lattitude.

B y
Effect of Change of Latitude on Density
n d e
• Along the surface of the earth density will be higher atktheh a
L o poles than

a
at the equator.
• This is because the surface pressure at the jpoles
u n is relatively higher

the equator.
i n R
than the equator and because the temperature is much colder than at

increasing latitude.Sa
c h
• Therefore, along the surface of the earth density increases with

a p t
y C
B
Effect of Change of Latitude on Density
n d e
k h a
• Above 26,000 ft the effect is
L o
a
reversed.
• At high altitudes above the equator
u n j
in R
the temperature is relatively low
and the pressure relatively high,

a c h
therefore at high altitudes above

t S
the equator density is higher than
p
a
at high altitudes above the poles.

C
• Therefore, density increases with
y
B
decreasing latitude.
Effect on Aircraft Instruments
n d e
• Accuracy of aircraft instruments - Mach meters, ASIs. kh
a
L o
j a
• Aircraft and engine performance - low density will
n
reduce lift,

u
increase take off run, reduce maximum take off weight.

i n R
• Humidity generally has a small effect on density (humidity reduces

a c h
density), but must be taken into account at moist tropical airfields.

p t S
C a
B y
Effect on Aircraft Performance
n d e
h
Ø For aircrafts with low cruising altitude (piston engine)kthe
a
L o
isa
operational efficiency is more at POLAR lattitudes.
Ø Because of low temperature there, there j
u n high density which
increases Performance.
i n R
a c h
p t S
C a
B y
Effect on Aircraft Performance
n d e
k h a
L o
Ø For aircrafts cruising at high altitudes (Jets ) aircraft efficiency will be

a
better at tropical latitude than at polar latitudes.

u
Ø Because above 30,000 feet upper air at same
n j level over tropics is
colder compared to upper air over the
i n R poles.

a c h
Ø Colder air means denser which means better operational efficiency.

p t S
C a
B y
Effect of Change of Latitude on Density
n d e
k h a
o
• Isopleths/Isopycnics – Lines joining places of equal density.
L
n j a
R u
h i n
S a c
a p t
y C
B
 n d e
k h a
L o
n j a
R u
c hin
S a
a pt
y C
B
 n d e
k h a
L o
n j a
R u
c hin
S a
a pt
y C
B