Altitude Weight Calculator, Formula, Altitude Weight Calculation

Altitude Weight Calculator:

Enter the values of weight at sea level, WSL_(kg) and altitude, A_(m) to determine the value of altitude weight, ALTW_(kg).

Altitude Weight Formula:

Altitude weight refers to the change in an object’s effective weight as it moves to different altitudes above sea level. This phenomenon is primarily due to the decrease in gravitational force as altitude increases.

The Earth’s gravity is not uniform; it decreases with distance from the Earth’s centre. At sea level, the gravitational pull is strongest, resulting in the highest possible weight for an object.

As one ascends, the distance from the Earth’s centre increases, leading to a reduction in gravitational force and, consequently, a slight decrease in the object’s weight.

This change is relatively small because the difference in distance is minimal compared to the Earth’s radius. However, at higher altitudes, such as in mountainous regions or during high-altitude flights, this reduction becomes more noticeable.

The decrease in gravitational force follows an inverse-square law, meaning that as the distance from the Earth’s centre doubles, the gravitational force reduces to a quarter of its original value.

The weight at altitude, ALTW_(kg) in kilograms, is calculated by subtracting the product of the altitude, A_(m) in metres, divided by 10,000, and 0.08, from the weight at sea level, WSL_(kg) in kilograms.

Weight at altitude,

ALTW_(kg) = WSL_(kg) – (A_(m) / 10000) * 0.08 * WSL_(kg)

ALTW_(kg) = weight at altitude in kilograms, kg.

WSL_(kg) = weight at sea level in kilograms, kg.

A_(m) = altitude in metres, m.

Altitude Weight Calculation:

1. A person weighs 70 kg at sea level. What would be their weight at an altitude of 5,000 metres?

Given: WSL_(kg) = 70 kg, A_(m) = 5000m.

Weight at altitude, ALTW_(kg) = WSL_(kg) – (A_(m) / 10000) * 0.08 * WSL_(kg)

ALTW_(kg) = 70 – (5000 / 10000) * 0.08 * 70

ALTW_(kg) = 70 – 2.8

ALTW_(kg) = 67.2kg.

2. A hiker weighs 75 kg at sea level. If their altitude weight is measured to be 74.4 kg, at what altitude are they located?

Given: WSL_(kg) = 75 kg, ALTW_(kg) = 74.4kg.

Weight at altitude, ALTW_(kg) = WSL_(kg) – (A_(m) / 10000) * 0.08 * WSL_(kg)

74.4 = 75 – (A_(m) / 10000) * 0.08 * 75

0.6 = (A_(m) / 10000) * 0.08 * 75

0.6 / 6 = (A_(m) / 10000)

A_(m) = 1000m.