Question

Air temperature decreases 6 degrees Celsius for every 1000m increase in elevation. The air temperature at the top of the mountain is -12 degrees Celsius. What is the air temperature on the outside of an airplane that is flying 5000m above the mountain top?

a. -30 degrees Celsius
b. -18 degrees Celsius
c. -24 degrees Celsius
d. -6 degrees Celsius

Answer 1

The air temperature on the outside of the airplane that is flying 5000m above the mountain top is -42 degrees Celsius.

Step-by-step explanation:

The given information states that the air temperature decreases 6 degrees Celsius for every 1000m increase in elevation. We are told that the air temperature at the top of the mountain is -12 degrees Celsius. Since the airplane is flying 5000m above the mountain top, we can calculate the decrease in temperature by dividing the elevation by 1000 and then multiplying by the rate of temperature decrease. So, (-12 - (5 x 6)) = -12 - 30 = -42 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the air temperature on the outside of the airplane is -42 degrees Celsius.