Atmospheric Physics and Suborbital Flight · BPhO 2014 #3
Physics · thermodynamics
Problem
Calculate the approximate speed of Nitrogen molecules at a temperature of 20°C.
Calculate the height at which the density of the Nitrogen molecules becomes one per cent of the pressure at ground level. It has been suggested that if a plane achieved a suborbital flight to Australia then a great deal of fuel could be saved. Estimate the energy needed to reach a suitable height so that the resistance of the air would be very small.
The "Dreamliner" has a mass of 2.27×105 kg.