1. What is Standard Atmospheric Pressure?

Definition: Standard atmospheric pressure is the typical pressure at sea level, defined as 101325 Pascals (Pa).

Purpose: This calculator estimates atmospheric pressure at different altitudes for engineering, aviation, and weather applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the barometric formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Pressure at altitude (Pa)
• \( P_0 \) — Sea level pressure (101325 Pa)
• \( M \) — Molar mass of air (0.02896 kg/mol)
• \( g \) — Gravitational acceleration (9.80665 m/s²)
• \( h \) — Altitude (m)
• \( R \) — Universal gas constant (8.314 J/(mol·K))
• \( T \) — Temperature (K)

Explanation: Pressure decreases exponentially with altitude due to the weight of the air above.

3. Importance of Atmospheric Pressure

Details: Understanding pressure variations is crucial for aircraft performance, weather forecasting, and industrial processes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter altitude in meters and temperature in °C. Default temperature is 15°C (standard atmosphere).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is standard sea level pressure?
A: Exactly 101325 Pascals (Pa), or about 1013.25 hPa (hectopascals).

Q2: How does temperature affect pressure?
A: Warmer air is less dense, so pressure decreases more slowly with altitude at higher temperatures.

Q3: What's the pressure at Mount Everest's summit?
A: About 33700 Pa (8848 m altitude), roughly 1/3 of sea level pressure.

Q4: Why use Pascals instead of atmospheres?
A: Pascals are the SI unit; 1 atm = 101325 Pa exactly.

Q5: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides a good estimate but doesn't account for local weather patterns or humidity.