Problem 3.

44 [Difficulty: 3]

Given: Atmospheric conditions at ground level (z = 0) in Denver, Colorado are p0 = 83.2 kPa, T0 = 25°C.
Pike's peak is at elevation z = 2690 m.

Find: p/p0 vs z for both cases.

Solution:
dp
Governing Equations: = − ρ⋅ g p = ρ⋅ R ⋅ T
dz

Assumptions: (1) Static fluid

(2) Ideal gas behavior
(a) For an incompressible atmosphere:

z
⌠
p = p0 − ρ0⋅ g⋅ z = p0⋅ ⎛⎜ 1 −
dp g⋅ z ⎞
= − ρ⋅ g p − p0 = −⎮ ρ⋅ g dz
R ⋅ T0 ⎟
becomes or (1)
dz ⌡0
⎝ ⎠
⎛ kg⋅ K N ⋅ s ⎟⎞
2
p = 83.2⋅ kPa × ⎜ 1 − 9.81⋅
m 1
At z = 2690⋅ m × 2690⋅ m × × × p = 57.5⋅ kPa
⎜ 2 287⋅ N ⋅ m 298⋅ K kg⋅ m ⎟
⎝ s ⎠
1
k
ρ = ρ0⋅ ⎛⎜ ⎟⎞
p p
(b) For an adiabatic atmosphere: = const
k p0
ρ ⎝ ⎠
1
k ρ0⋅ g
dp = −ρ0⋅ ⎛⎜ ⎟⎞ ⋅ g⋅ dz
dp p 1
= − ρ⋅ g becomes or dp = − ⋅ dz
dz 1 1
⎝ p0 ⎠
k k
p p0

p k−1 ⎛ k−1 k−1 ⎞

⌠ k ⎜ k k ⎟ ρ0⋅ g
⎮
( )
1 k k
But dp = ⋅ p − p0 hence ⋅ p − p0 =− ⋅ g⋅ z
⎮ 1 k−1 k−1 ⎝ ⎠ 1
⎮ k k
⎮ p p0
⌡p
0
k k
k−1 k−1
⎛ k − 1 ρ0 ⎞
= ⎛⎜ 1 −
p p k − 1 g⋅ z ⎞
= ⎜1 − ⋅ ⋅ g⋅ z⎟ ⋅
k R ⋅ T0 ⎟
Solving for the pressure ratio or (2)
p0 k p0 p0
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
1.4
1.4−1
⎛ 1.4 − 1 kg⋅ K N⋅ s ⎞⎟
2
p = 83.2⋅ kPa × ⎜ 1 −
m 1
At z = 2690⋅ m × 9.81⋅ × 2690⋅ m × × × p = 60.2⋅ kPa
⎜ 1.4 2 287⋅ N⋅ m 298⋅ K kg⋅ m ⎟
⎝ s ⎠
Equations 1 and 2 can be plotted:

Temperature Variation with Elevation

3
5×10

3
4×10
Elevation above Denver (m)

3
3×10

3
2×10

3
1×10

Incompressible
Adiabatic
0
0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Pressure Ratio (-)