Ideal Gas HW Problem: Pressure at 11,000 meters?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cuckooforcocoa
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Gas Ideal gas
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The problem involves calculating atmospheric pressure at an altitude of 11,000 meters with a temperature of -50 degrees Celsius and an air density of 0.403 kg/m^3. The equation used was P = P0exp(-Mgy/RT), but the solution of P = 2.8 * 10^4 was not accepted by the online homework system. The correct approach is to utilize the Ideal Gas Law for accurate results, specifically considering the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level and the temperature conversion to Kelvin.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Ideal Gas Law
  • Knowledge of atmospheric pressure calculations
  • Familiarity with temperature conversion to Kelvin
  • Basic principles of gas density and altitude effects
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the Ideal Gas Law and its applications in atmospheric science
  • Learn about pressure variations with altitude using barometric formulas
  • Study temperature conversion techniques, particularly Celsius to Kelvin
  • Explore the relationship between air density and altitude in meteorology
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students in physics or atmospheric science, educators teaching gas laws, and anyone involved in meteorological calculations.

Cuckooforcocoa
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Ideal Gas HW Problem!?

Homework Statement


"At an altitude of 11,000 meters, the air temperature is -50 degrees celsius. The air density is 0.403 kg/m^3. What is the pressure of the atmosphere at that altitude."

Homework Equations


P = P0exp(- Mgy/RT)


The Attempt at a Solution


I attempted to solve the problem using the above equation above equation and my result was P = 2.8 * 10^4. However my online homework is not accepting the answer and I'm not sure what I did wrong. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Po is the pressure at altitude h=0, at the given temperature. I think you used the value given for T=273 K.

Use the Ideal Gas Law instead.

ehild
 

Similar threads

Incompatibility between ideal gas equations of state
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Ideal Gas Law and Pressure at 80°C
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Calculate ideal-gas temperature of a material
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Changes in pressure, temp, & entropy of ideal gas in atmosphere
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Is the Ideal Gas Law Valid for Balloon Problems?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
What would be a real-life example of the ideal gas law?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
10K
Why Might Statement (b) Be Incorrect in Ideal Gas Processes?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Question about Ideal gas law and its application
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Trouble solving for end state of two control volumes in a rigid tank
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
How Does Expansion Affect Internal Energy in a Monatomic Ideal Gas?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K