Barometric Pressure Elevation Calculator

Barometric Pressure Formula:

\[ P = P_0 \times e^{\left(\frac{-g M h}{R T}\right)} \]

Pressure at Height (P): Pa

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1. What is a Barometric Pressure Elevation Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates atmospheric pressure at different altitudes using the barometric formula.

Purpose: It helps meteorologists, pilots, engineers, and scientists understand how pressure changes with elevation.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ P = P_0 \times e^{\left(\frac{-g M h}{R T}\right)} \]

Where:

\( P \) — Pressure at height h (Pa)
\( P_0 \) — Initial pressure at reference level (Pa)
\( g \) — Gravitational acceleration (9.80665 m/s²)
\( M \) — Molar mass of Earth's air (0.0289644 kg/mol)
\( h \) — Height difference (m)
\( R \) — Universal gas constant (8.31447 J/(mol·K))
\( T \) — Temperature (K)

Explanation: The formula models how atmospheric pressure decreases exponentially with altitude.

3. Importance of Pressure Calculation

Details: Accurate pressure calculations are essential for weather forecasting, aircraft performance, and scientific research.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the reference pressure (default sea level: 101325 Pa), height difference, and temperature in Kelvin. All values must be valid.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is standard sea level pressure?
A: 101325 Pascals (Pa), which is equivalent to 1 atmosphere (atm) or 1013.25 hPa.

Q2: Why does temperature affect pressure at altitude?
A: Warmer air expands, making the pressure decrease more slowly with height. Colder air contracts, causing faster pressure decrease.

Q3: How accurate is this formula?
A: It provides good estimates for altitudes up to about 10 km, assuming constant temperature and dry air.

Q4: What's the typical pressure at Mount Everest's summit?
A: About 30,000-33,000 Pa (30-33% of sea level pressure) at 8848 m elevation.

Q5: How do I convert between pressure units?
A: 1 atm = 101325 Pa = 1013.25 hPa = 760 mmHg (torr). Use our unit conversion tools if needed.