Stability and control (longitudinal, lateral, and directional) MCQs – Aerospace

1. The longitudinal stability of an aircraft is primarily controlled by which component?
(A) Horizontal stabilizer
(B) Vertical stabilizer
(C) Aileron
(D) Rudder

2. In terms of aircraft stability, what is the main function of the horizontal stabilizer?
(A) Control roll
(B) Control pitch
(C) Control yaw
(D) Increase drag

3. Which control surface is most effective in managing roll movements?
(A) Elevators
(B) Ailerons
(C) Rudder
(D) Trim tab

4. What is a characteristic of an aircraft with positive longitudinal static stability?
(A) It returns to its original position after a disturbance
(B) It does not return to its original position
(C) It continues to diverge from its original position
(D) It requires continuous control input to maintain position

5. Adverse yaw is a phenomenon most closely associated with which control surface?
(A) Elevators
(B) Ailerons
(C) Rudder
(D) Horizontal stabilizer

6. Which factor increases an aircraft’s directional stability?
(A) Increasing the vertical stabilizer size
(B) Decreasing the vertical stabilizer size
(C) Moving the center of gravity forward
(D) Increasing the horizontal stabilizer size

7. The effect of moving the center of gravity aft on longitudinal stability is:
(A) Increased stability
(B) Decreased stability
(C) No effect on stability
(D) Increased roll rate

8. The term “Dutch roll” describes a combination of which types of aircraft motions?
(A) Roll and pitch
(B) Pitch and yaw
(C) Roll and yaw
(D) Yaw and climb

9. Which control surface is used to manage pitch in an aircraft?
(A) Aileron
(B) Rudder
(C) Elevator
(D) Trim tab

10. Which component controls the yaw movement of an aircraft?
(A) Elevator
(B) Aileron
(C) Rudder
(D) Horizontal stabilizer

11. In terms of lateral stability, what is the primary role of the aircraft’s dihedral angle?
(A) It decreases stability
(B) It increases stability
(C) It has no effect
(D) It increases drag

12. Static stability is characterized by the aircraft’s tendency to:
(A) Return to its original attitude after a disturbance
(B) Diverge from its original attitude
(C) Maintain its current attitude
(D) Change its attitude continuously

13. Dynamic stability refers to an aircraft’s ability to:
(A) Return to a straight and level flight after a disturbance
(B) Remain in a disturbed position
(C) Continue diverging from its original path
(D) Maintain its current flight path

14. An aircraft with negative lateral static stability will:
(A) Return to its original attitude after a disturbance
(B) Continue to roll away from its original attitude
(C) Maintain its current attitude
(D) Correct its roll without control input

15. The primary function of the vertical stabilizer is to control:
(A) Pitch
(B) Roll
(C) Yaw
(D) Altitude

16. Which control surface is involved in controlling an aircraft’s roll movements?
(A) Ailerons
(B) Elevators
(C) Rudder
(D) Flaps

17. An aircraft’s directional stability is primarily influenced by the size of the:
(A) Horizontal stabilizer
(B) Vertical stabilizer
(C) Ailerons
(D) Elevators

18. If an aircraft is said to have “neutral longitudinal stability,” it means:
(A) It returns to its original attitude without input
(B) It does not return to its original attitude without input
(C) It diverges from its original attitude
(D) It requires continuous control input to maintain its attitude

19. What is the effect of increasing the size of the horizontal stabilizer on longitudinal stability?
(A) It decreases stability
(B) It has no effect
(C) It increases stability
(D) It increases drag

20. The purpose of the ailerons is to control:
(A) Pitch
(B) Yaw
(C) Roll
(D) Altitude