What Is the Pitot Tube Airspeed & Dynamic Pressure Calculator?
The Pitot tube is a pressure measurement instrument invented by Henri Pitot in 1732 to measure fluid flow velocity.
How Does the Pitot Tube Airspeed & Dynamic Pressure Calculator Work?
Fluid directed into the forward tube stagnates (velocity drops to zero), converting kinetic energy into stagnation pressure.
Pitot Tube Airspeed & Dynamic Pressure Calculator Formula & Variables
The core mathematical equation utilized by this calculator is expressed as:
v = \sqrt{\frac{2(P_t - P_s)}{\rho}} = \sqrt{\frac{2 q}{\rho}}
Stagnation total pressure Pt minus static pressure Ps equals dynamic pressure q = 0.5·ρ·v².
How to Use the Pitot Tube Airspeed & Dynamic Pressure Calculator
- Enter dynamic differential pressure in Pascals.
- Optionally adjust air density for altitude.
Step-by-Step Example Calculation
Low-Altitude Flow Speed
Input Values:
dynamicPressure:800
density:1.225
Worked Steps: A dynamic pressure of 800 Pa in sea-level air yields 36.14 m/s (70.2 knots / 130 km/h).
Understanding Your Result
Indicated Airspeed: True speed in knots, m/s, km/h, and mph.
Factors That Affect the Result
- Air Density: Decreasing density at high altitude increases true airspeed for the same dynamic pressure.
When Should You Use This Calculator?
- Aviation flight instrumentation and industrial HVAC duct anemometry.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Incompressible flow assumption holds accurately for Mach < 0.3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Calculation Accuracy & Reference Note
Bernoulli stagnation streamline theorem with exact precision.