High School

What is the temperature around an airplane flying at an altitude of 4000 meters if the temperature on the Earth's surface is 40°C?

A. 14°C
B. 66°C
C. 26°C
D. 12°C

Answer :

Sure, let's solve this problem step-by-step.

### Problem
What is the temperature around an airplane flying at an altitude of 4000 meters if the temperature on the earth's surface is 40°C?

### Solution Steps

1. Understand the Given Data:
- Altitude at which the airplane is flying: 4000 meters.
- Temperature on the earth's surface: 40°C.

2. Know the Rule of Temperature Decrease with Altitude:
- In the troposphere (the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere), the standard temperature lapse rate is about 6.5°C for every 1000 meters of altitude gained.

3. Calculate the Temperature Decrease:
- First, we need to determine how much the temperature decreases at a given altitude.
- Altitude in 1000 meters units: [tex]\( \frac{4000 \, meters}{1000 \, meters} = 4 \)[/tex].
- Temperature decrease per 1000 meters: 6.5°C.
- Total temperature decrease: [tex]\( 4 \times 6.5°C = 26°C \)[/tex].

4. Calculate the Temperature at Altitude:
- Subtract the total temperature decrease from the temperature at the earth's surface.
- Initial temperature on the surface: 40°C.
- Temperature decrease: 26°C.
- Temperature at 4000 meters altitude: [tex]\( 40°C - 26°C = 14°C \)[/tex].

So, the temperature around the airplane flying at an altitude of 4000 meters is 14°C.

### Conclusion
The correct answer is:
A. 14°C