Basic Aerodynamics

Question 1

What Are the Four Forces of Flight?

Answer 1

Lift, Weight, Thrust, Drag

Question 2

What is Newton’s First Law of Motion?

Answer 2

An object will continue moving in space at a constant velocity unless an external force is applied

Question 3

What is Newton’s Second Law of Motion?

Answer 3

If a force is applied to a body it will accelerate at a rate proportional to its mass and the force applied (Force = Mass x Acceleration)

Question 4

What is Newton’s Third Law of Motion?

Answer 4

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

Question 5

What is Potential Energy?

Answer 5

Potential energy is the energy a body possesses by virtue of its position in a force field

Question 6

What is Kinetic Energy?

Answer 6

Kinetic energy is the energy a body possesses by virtue of its motion. It is proportional to velocity and mass

Question 7

What is Dynamic Pressure?

Answer 7

Dynamic pressure is the active pressure felt by a stream of molecules hitting something

Question 8

What is Static Pressure?

Answer 8

Static pressure is the unchanging pressure felt at any one time given a certain set of conditions

Question 9

Describe an Aerofoil

Answer 9

An aerofoil is described as any body which when set at a suitable angle to a given airflow, produces much more lift than drag

Question 10

What is Relative Airflow?

Answer 10

Relative airflow is the direction of movement of the atmosphere relative to an aircraft or an airfoil

Question 11

Describe an Aerodynamic Stall

Answer 11

A stall is the point at which an aerofoil no longer produces lift by increasing the angle of attack

Question 12

What is a Chord Line?

Answer 12

The chord line is the straight line joining the leading and trailing edges

Question 13

What is Angle of Attack?

Answer 13

AoA is the angle between the chord line and the relative airflow

Question 14

What is Aircraft Attitude Relative to?

Answer 14

The horizon

Question 15

What is the Definition of Airspeed?

Answer 15

The speed of the aircraft realtive to the air