Mechanics of Flight SESA2025 Background

background lectures and fundamentals recap

18 flashcards · Physics · by Zack Phipps

1. What is the centroid?

   centroid is the point at which the forces left and right of it are equal

2. What is the pitching moment coefficient

   Pitching moment coefficient is the resultant of the centroids being not in the same point, Cm works to counteract this

3. What is the Centre of pressure?

   point along the chord where Cm = 0

4. Aerodynamic Centre

   point at which the moment does not change with angle of attack

5. for statically stable aircraft what is

   less than zero

6. what is ST S SN SW

   Tail plane area main reference area net wing area wetted area

7. What is the standard mean chord (SMC)

8. What is the mean aerodynamic chord (MAC)

9. What is Aspect Ratio

10. what if dCmcg/dalpha = 0

    statically neutral

11. what is CT

    distance between CG and tail AC

12. what is L

    distance between main wing AC and tail AC

13. What is downwash ( 4 points)

    induced by tip vorticies impacts the tail plane pressure between the top and bottom surfaces induces flow to move around the wing tips

14. which way does vorticity form

    vorticity rolls up in the direction of lift

15. for a 2D wing what is CL

16. for a 3D wing what is CL

17. downwash equations

18. what is the induced drag from the downwash