Question

The density of air has significant effects on the aircraft's performance because as air becomes less dense, it reduces:

a) Fuel efficiency
b) Lift and engine power
c) Radio communication range
d) Passenger comfor

Answer 1

Air density significantly affects aircraft performance by reducing lift and engine power as altitude increases, due to the lower mass of air flowing over the wings and into the engines.

Step-by-step explanation:

The density of air plays a critical role in the performance of an aircraft. It directly affects the lift an airplane can generate and the engine power due to the amount of air available for engine combustion. As the air becomes less dense, usually with an increase in altitude, airplanes experience a reduction in lift and engine power. The thinner air at higher altitudes means that there is less air mass flowing over the wings and into the engines, which is why the performance of the aircraft decreases. This decrease in air density with altitude is exponential and significant changes occur, for instance, air density at the summit of Mount Everest is substantially lower than at sea level, explaining why supplemental oxygen is needed for climbers.