On a very hot day, the density altitude will be:

• A. Higher, higher
• B. Higher, lower
• C. Lower, higher
• D. Normal, normal

Answer: (B)

Density altitude is a crucial concept in aviation, as it affects aircraft performance. It is defined as the pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature variations. On a very hot day, the air temperature is above the standard atmospheric temperature at a given pressure altitude, resulting in an increase in density altitude.

As the temperature rises, the density of the air decreases because warm air is less dense than cold air. This reduction in air density means that an aircraft requires a longer distance to take off and may have reduced engine performance and climb rates. Thus, on a hot day, the density altitude increases, meaning that the effective altitude at which the aircraft operates is higher than the actual physical altitude.

In this scenario, the correct understanding is that on a very hot day, while pressure altitude may remain constant, the density altitude indeed becomes higher due to the increased temperature. The reasoning behind this leads to the conclusion that density altitude is higher when temperatures are elevated.