Air pressure

Chapter 1: Time An Air

• Understanding Flight

  • Aeroplanes stay in the air due to physics, specifically air properties and air pressure.

• Properties of Air

  • Composed of small molecules, which in turn are made up of tiny atoms.

  • Despite being invisible, air has mass and weight.

  • Acts like a fluid; each air molecule exerts pressure when it contacts an object.

• Air Pressure Types

  • Static Air Pressure: Exerted on stationary objects.

    • Example: An inflated balloon remains firm due to the balance of pressure from air inside and outside. When external static air pressure decreases, a balloon expands.

  • Dynamic Air Pressure: Created by the movement of air. It is the pressure caused by the motion of air over an object. As an aircraft moves through the air, the speed of the air changes, making this pressure significant during flight.