Question

Air pressure, P , decreases exponentially with the height, h , in meters above sea level: where Po is the air pressure at sea level. P=Poe^-.00012h
(a) At the top of Mount McKinley, height 6194 meters (about 20320 feet), what is the air pressure, as a percent of the pressure at sea level?
Round your answer to one decimal place.The air pressure is about of sea level pressure.
(b) The maximum cruising altitude of an ordinary commercial jet is around 12000 meters (39000 feet). At that height, what is the air pressure, as a percent of the sea level value?

Answer 1

at sea level h=0
so P=Po
a) at mount mckinley height=6194
let Pressure be P1= Po e^(-0.00012*6194)
P1=0.4755Po
as a percent of sea level's pressure = 0.4755Po/Po*100= 47.55 %
b)
Let pressure at the cruising altitude be P2
P2= P0 e^(-0.00012*12000)=0.236
so percent of sea level's pressure= 23.6 %

Answer 2

Okay, wow. thanks! Didn't think anyone would try to capture that one!