Aircraft Performance Questions and Answers - Vertical Development of Air

1. Regions of low pressure, cyclones and high pressure, anti-cyclones are formed by effects of convection currents in the atmosphere.
a) True
b) False

Answer: a
Explanation: Regions of low pressure, cyclones and high pressure, anti-cyclones are formed by effects of convection currents in the atmosphere. This is caused due to the air transporting from higher temperature regions to the lower temperature regions.

2. According to ISA atmospheric model what is the value of datum atmospheric pressure in N/m2?
a) 101325
b) 101335
c) 101336
d) 101326

Answer: a
Explanation: According to ISA atmospheric model what is the value of datum atmospheric pressure is 101325 N/m2. It can also be written in 1atm or 1.01325 bar or 101325 Pascal. The conversion of N/m2 to bar is 1 bar=105 N/m2. The conversion of bar to Pascal is 1 bar=1 Pascal.

3. The atmosphere is mainly divided into _______ layers.
a) 2
b) 6
c) 7
d) 5

Answer: d
Explanation: The atmosphere is divided into 5 layers. They are troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere where these layers are sub divided into lower and upper layers.

4. According to ISA atmospheric model what is the value of datum atmospheric temperature?
a) 273K
b) 277K
c) 288.15K
d) 288.15°C

Answer: c
Explanation: According to ISA atmospheric model what is the value of datum atmospheric temperature is 288.15K. It can also be written as 15.15°C. The relation between Kelvin scale and Celsius scale is K=°C+273.

5. The range of temperature in mesosphere is ________
a) below 130K
b) below 140K
c) below 110K
d) below 120K

Answer: a
Explanation: The range of temperature in mesosphere is below 130K. It starts at the top of stratosphere and ends at mesopause. It is the coldest part of earth’s atmosphere. It is usually around 85 to 100 kilometers.

6. The range of temperature in thermosphere is ________
a) 200-500°C
b) 200-1000°C
c) 200-2000°C
d) 200-700°C

Answer: c
Explanation: The range of temperature in thermosphere is 200-2000°C. The temperature varies from day and night, during night its 200°C and during day it’s 200°C. The upper thermosphere extends up to a temperature of 2000°C.

7. The range of temperature in stratosphere is _____________
a) -51°C to -15°C
b) -5°C to -10°C
c) -510°C to -105°C
d) -31°C to -10°C

Answer: a
Explanation: The range of temperature in stratosphere is -51°C to -15°C. The layer closer to tropopause is -51°C and the layer close to mesosphere is -15°C. This temperature change happens depending on seasonal changes.

8. The range of temperature in troposphere is _____________
a) 15°C to -51°C
b) 5°C to -10°C
c) 510°C to -105°C
d) 31°C to -10°C

Answer: a
Explanation: The range of temperature in troposphere is 15°C to -51°C. Troposphere is quite cool compared to other atmospheric layers of earth. Troposphere has higher temperature than stratosphere.

9. The altitude range of thermosphere is ___________
a) 50km to 400km
b) 90km to 500km
c) 100km to 300km
d) 70km to 400km

Answer: b
Explanation: The altitude range of thermosphere is 90km to 500km. Thermosphere is present between mesosphere and exosphere. The range of temperature in thermosphere is 200-2000°C. The temperature varies from day and night, during night its 200°C and during day it’s 200°C. The upper thermosphere extends up to a temperature of 2000°C.

10. The altitude range of troposphere is ___________
a) 10km to 50km
b) 8km to 18km
c) 20km to 60km
d) 10km to 30km

Answer: b
Explanation: The altitude range of troposphere is 8km to 18km. The tropopause is about 18km above the equator. The height of the troposphere varies with seasons, it is highest in summer and lowest in winter.