1. What is the Barometric Formula?

The barometric formula calculates atmospheric pressure at a given height above sea level. It's based on the ideal gas law and assumes an isothermal atmosphere with constant gravitational acceleration.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the barometric formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Pressure at height h (Pa)
• \( P_0 \) — Sea level pressure (Pa)
• \( M \) — Molar mass of air (kg/mol)
• \( g \) — Gravitational acceleration (m/s²)
• \( h \) — Height above sea level (m)
• \( R \) — Universal gas constant (J/mol·K)
• \( T \) — Temperature (K)

Explanation: The formula describes how atmospheric pressure decreases exponentially with increasing altitude due to the decreasing weight of the air column above.

3. Importance of Pressure Calculation

Details: Accurate pressure calculation is crucial for meteorology, aviation, mountaineering, and engineering applications where atmospheric conditions affect performance and safety.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter sea level pressure in Pa, molar mass in kg/mol, gravity in m/s², height in meters, gas constant in J/mol·K, and temperature in Kelvin. All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are typical values for the constants?
A: Standard values: M = 0.0289647 kg/mol, g = 9.80665 m/s², R = 8.314462618 J/mol·K

Q2: How accurate is this formula?
A: The formula provides good approximations for moderate altitudes but becomes less accurate at very high altitudes due to temperature variations and other atmospheric effects.

Q3: What is standard sea level pressure?
A: Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is 101325 Pa (1013.25 hPa).

Q4: Can this be used for other planets?
A: Yes, with appropriate values for planetary gravity, atmospheric composition (molar mass), and temperature.

Q5: How does temperature affect the result?
A: Higher temperatures result in slower pressure decrease with altitude, while lower temperatures cause faster pressure decrease.