If the altimeter setting is too high, which of the following will occur?

If the altimeter setting is too high, which of the following will occur?

• A. Indicated altitude will be higher.
• B. Indicated altitude will be lower.
• C. Indicated altitude will be unchanged.
• D. Altitude will automatically adjust.

Answer: (B)

Understanding how altimeter settings affect reading is key. The altimeter measures ambient air pressure and translates it into an altitude using the reference sea‑level pressure you set in the window. If you crank the setting higher, you’re telling the instrument that sea‑level pressure is greater than it actually is. For the same actual ambient pressure, the instrument then computes a smaller altitude because it thinks you’re closer to the reference sea level. So the indicated altitude drops. It’s the inverse relationship: higher setting yields lower indicated altitude, and lower setting yields higher indicated altitude.

Understanding how altimeter settings affect reading is key. The altimeter measures ambient air pressure and translates it into an altitude using the reference sea‑level pressure you set in the window. If you crank the setting higher, you’re telling the instrument that sea‑level pressure is greater than it actually is. For the same actual ambient pressure, the instrument then computes a smaller altitude because it thinks you’re closer to the reference sea level. So the indicated altitude drops. It’s the inverse relationship: higher setting yields lower indicated altitude, and lower setting yields higher indicated altitude.