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"The air pressure at 10 km is much smaller than on the ground. The pressurePerhaps a slightly better phrasing is that the pressure increase over the low outside air pressure at height is provided by bleed air from the engine,or lately by electric compressors in order to maintain a breathable pressure corresponding to higher Earth locations, as a compromise between passenger comfort and structural weight.
difference between the cabin and outside is decreased by having a decreased
cabin pressure, something like we have at 3 km
On Jul 2, 2022, at 12:47, Antti Savinainen via Phys-l <phys-l@mail.phys-l.org> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm waiting for a plane to Santorini and I overheard a conversation with a
dad and his about 10 year old son. The boy asked something, and the dad
replied:
"The air pressure at 10 km is much smaller than on the ground. The pressure
difference between the cabin and outside is decreased by having a decreased
cabin pressure, something like we have at 3 km. If this were not done, the
airplane structure should be more sturdy to sustain the force due to
pressure difference."
Is the explanation correct? I don't know much about aeroplane design, but
the explanations involves a valid physical idea.
At any rate, I quite like the way how the dad answered the boy's question.
Regards,
Antti Savinainen, PhD
Kuopio Lyseo HS
Finland
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