Density
Chapter - 4
AIR DENSITY (Þ- Rho)
• Density affects performance of an aircraft significantly.
• It affects lift, thrust, drag, climb rate and airspeed of an aircraft. In low
density the climb outs are slower, both landing and take-off speeds are
greater, the thrust of the engine is reduced and longer runways are required
for take-off and landing.
• Definition and Units The atmospheric density is defined as the mass of air
contained in a unit volume. Its unit is g/m³ or kg/m³. Density is also
expressed as the Density Altitude.
• Density altitude is defined as the altitude above MSL at which a
given atmospheric density occurs in the ISA. The Pressure altitude
and the Density altitude have the same value in the ISA. In other
way it is pressure altitude corrected for non standard
temperature.
• 1°C temperature deviation from ISA is equal to 120 ft.
• If temperature is > ISA → Density altitude is > Pressure altitude.
• The Density altitude is higher if the atmosphere is warmer than
the ISA. High density altitude would mean taking off from or
landing at an airfield at a higher altitude.
DA = PA + (120 × (OAT – ISA temp) which is ISA Deviation.
PA = Given altitude (IA or elevation)+ (1013 – QNH) * 30
Density less → Higher density altitude
Density more → Lower density altitude
Density of Dry Air - The air density (ρ) can be obtained by
substituting observed values of the pressure (P hPa) and
temperature (T Kelvin) in the fundamental gas equation:
PV = RT
Since for a unit mass of gas density ρ is the reciprocal of
the volume V, therefore: P/ρ = RT or ρ = P / RT
where V is the volume, T the absolute temperature and R
the gas constant for the particular gas.
Substituting the values of the gas constant for dry air R =
2.87, ISA surface pressure 1013.25 hPa and temperature
15°C (288°K), the equation gives the density as 1.225
kg/m³.
1013.25 hpa /2.87 * 288 K = 1.225 kg / m3.
Density of Moist Air - Being a gas, water vapour obeys the fundamental gas
equation.
The moist air is less dense than dry air, under similar conditions of pressure and
temperature. Since the effect of humidity on density is small, it can be ignored for
aviation purposes.
Factors Affecting Density : Air density is affected by the following three factors:
1. Pressure – Increases Density, High pressure – high density.
2. Altitude - The higher the altitude, the less dense the air is.
3. Temperature - The warmer the air, the less dense it is.
4. Humidity - It is not a major factor in affecting density, yet humid air is lighter
than dry air. At high temperature, the atmosphere can retain a high water
vapor content. If humidity is high, it is wise to add 10% to the computed take-
off distance and anticipate reduced climb rate.
Variations in Surface Density - At a given pressure, the density
is inversely proportional to the absolute temperature. Warm
air is thus comparatively lighter, and cold air is heavier.
Variations in density during a day occur due to the diurnal
variation of temperature. The lowest densities occur in the
afternoon and the highest just after sunrise.
Seasonal density changes occur due to variations in
temperature and pressure. It is noteworthy that a decrease of
density of about 1% is produced by a fall of pressure of 10 hPa,
or an increase of temperature of 3°C, or by an increase in
height of 300 feet.
Variation of Density with Height : In ISA the density decreases
with height at all levels. The decrease at lower levels for 1000
ft is approximately 3% of the value for any given level. This rule
gives good approximation up to about 20,000 feet.
Altitude - Kms Density g/m3 % tage
0 1225 100
1 1112 91
2 1007 82
3 909 74
4 819 67
5 736 60
6 660 54
7 590 48
8 526 43
9 467 38
10 413 34
11 364 30
12 319 26
16 182 20
18 138 11
20 106 9
Density – Air columns (Temperature effect)
• If the density of the air was to remain uniform with height, the atmosphere
would extend up to 8 km. But since density decreases with height, at every 5–
6 km it reduces to its previous half value.
• It is 1/2 of the surface value at 6 km1/4 at 11 km1/8 at 17 km. However, at
240 km there is sufficient density to offer resistance. It is, therefore, believed
that the atmosphere extends up to about 800 km.
• Latitudinal Variation - Density of air at sea level is lowest near the equator
and greatest at the poles. This distribution is maintained up to about 8.0 km.
Above 8.0 km, a reversal occurs and the density becomes more near the
equator than at poles (higher latitude).This will mean:
• For aircraft with low cruising altitudes (piston-engine type):Operational
efficiency at any level would be greater in high latitudes than in the tropics.
• For aircraft with high cruising altitudes (jet aircraft):Operational efficiency
would be greater in the tropics than at high latitudes.
Example 1- Airport elevation = 3000 ft
QNH = 1013 hpa, Temp assume ISA = 9 deg C
Temp deviation = 0
So altimeter reads = 3000 ft. and DA = 3000 ft.
ISA day DA = PA
Exam 2 – Hot day ( DA >PA)
Elevation = 3000 ft
QNH = 1013, PA = 3000 ft.
OAT = 25 deg C
Temp Dev = 25-9 = 16 deg C
DA = 3000 + 120 * (Tem dev) = 3000 + (120 * 16 )= 4920 ft so aircraft
feels like it fly almost 5000 ft.
Result – longer take off, low climb reduced performance.