Drone Pilot Practice Exam

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Using average lapse rate, if you ascend from 5,000 feet MSL to 7,000 feet MSL, how much should the air temperature drop?

2 degrees
4 degrees
6 degrees
8 degrees

The correct answer is: 4 degrees

The average lapse rate is a useful concept in meteorology that describes how temperature changes with altitude. Specifically, under typical conditions in the troposphere, the temperature decreases by about 2 degrees Celsius for every 1,000 feet of ascent. In this scenario, ascending from 5,000 feet to 7,000 feet represents a change of 2,000 feet. To calculate the expected temperature drop, you multiply the number of thousands of feet ascended (2) by the lapse rate (2 degrees Celsius per 1,000 feet). Thus, the calculation would be: 2,000 feet / 1,000 feet = 2 (thousands) 2 (thousands) x 2 degrees Celsius = 4 degrees Celsius Therefore, the air temperature should drop by 4 degrees Celsius as one ascends from 5,000 feet to 7,000 feet MSL. This makes the selection of 4 degrees Celsius as the correct answer since it accurately reflects the average temperature drop expected with altitude increase according to the average lapse rate.