The force that opposes an aircraft’s motion through the air is known as:
Drag
The force that propels an aircraft forward through the air is called:
Thrust
Which force is responsible for counteracting the force of gravity on an aircraft?
Lift
What is the primary source of drag on an aircraft?
The friction between the aircraft’s surface and the air
What is the effect of increasing an aircraft’s speed on drag?
Drag increases
Which type of drag increases with the square of the aircraft’s speed?
Parasite drag
What are the two main components of parasite drag?
Form drag and skin friction drag
Which drag component is associated with the shape of the aircraft?
Form drag
What is the primary purpose of aircraft thrust?
To overcome drag and propel the aircraft forward
How does thrust affect the acceleration of an aircraft?
Thrust increases acceleration
Which factor does NOT influence the amount of drag experienced by an aircraft?
Altitude
What is induced drag and how does it relate to lift?
Induced drag is caused by the generation of lift and increases with lift
What is the relationship between the angle of attack and induced drag?
Induced drag increases with an increase in the angle of attack
Which type of drag is minimized by streamlining an aircraft’s shape?
Form drag
How does increasing the aircraft’s altitude affect drag?
Drag decreases with increased altitude due to lower air density
What is the effect of wing flaps on drag?
Wing flaps increase drag
How does the deployment of landing gear affect drag?
Landing gear increases drag
What is the primary function of a jet engine in terms of thrust?
To generate thrust by expelling high-speed exhaust gases
Which aerodynamic force is generated by the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of a wing?
Lift
What happens to drag when an aircraft flies at a higher speed?
Drag increases
What is the role of thrust reversers during landing?
To increase drag and decelerate the aircraft
How does an increase in aircraft weight affect drag?
An increase in weight generally increases drag
What is the main effect of reducing thrust on an aircraft’s speed?
Speed decreases
Which aerodynamic force opposes the motion of an aircraft through the air?
Drag
What is the effect of increasing aircraft speed on skin friction drag?
Skin friction drag increases with speed
How does the shape of an aircraft influence drag?
A more streamlined shape reduces drag
What is the primary purpose of an aircraft’s control surfaces in relation to forces?
To manage and control lift, drag, and thrust for stable flight
Which factor does NOT contribute to induced drag?
Aircraft speed
What happens to the thrust required for takeoff as the aircraft weight increases?
Thrust required increases
What is the term for drag that occurs due to the aircraft’s motion through the air and its interaction with the airflow?
Parasite drag
How does an aircraft’s altitude affect thrust requirements?
Thrust requirements generally increase with altitude due to lower air density
What is the primary factor affecting form drag?
The shape of the aircraft
Which component of drag is related to the airflow along the surface of the aircraft?
Skin friction drag
What is the effect of deploying speed brakes on drag?
Speed brakes increase drag
How does an aircraft’s engine contribute to overcoming drag?
By producing thrust that counteracts drag
Which type of drag increases with the increase in the aircraft’s speed?
Parasite drag
What effect does a high angle of attack have on induced drag?
Induced drag increases
How does adding winglets affect drag?
Winglets decrease induced drag
What is the effect of reducing the angle of attack on drag?
Drag generally decreases
What aerodynamic force helps an aircraft climb?
Lift
What is the impact of airspeed on drag experienced by the aircraft?
Higher airspeed results in increased drag
Which design feature helps reduce skin friction drag?
Smooth, streamlined surfaces
What happens to the thrust-to-weight ratio as an aircraft climbs?
Thrust-to-weight ratio decreases
How does an aircraft’s design affect its drag coefficient?
A more aerodynamic design reduces the drag coefficient
What is the relationship between drag and aircraft speed during cruise flight?
Drag is proportional to the square of the speed
What effect does increasing thrust have on an aircraft’s performance?
Increases speed and can overcome higher drag
What aerodynamic principle explains the force that opposes the aircraft’s forward motion?
Newton’s Third Law of Motion
How does a higher air density affect the drag experienced by an aircraft?
Higher air density increases drag
What is the effect of aircraft design on induced drag?
A more efficient wing design can reduce induced drag
What happens to thrust as an aircraft reaches cruising altitude?
Thrust is adjusted to maintain steady speed and altitude
Which aerodynamic feature is primarily used to control drag during descent?
Speed brakes
How does thrust affect the rate of climb for an aircraft?
Increased thrust allows for a higher rate of climb
What is the primary aerodynamic factor affecting the efficiency of thrust generation?
Engine design and performance
How does drag impact fuel consumption on a long flight?
Increased drag leads to higher fuel consumption
What is the primary aerodynamic force that acts in the opposite direction to thrust?
Drag
What happens to drag as the aircraft’s surface area increases?
Drag increases
What is the impact of lowering the landing gear on aerodynamic drag?
It increases drag significantly
How does reducing airspeed affect induced drag?
Induced drag decreases with lower airspeed
What role does thrust play in maintaining an aircraft’s cruising speed?
Thrust counteracts drag to maintain steady cruising speed