The Physics of Flight

What forces must you understand in order to safely fly an aircraft?

• Lift, weight, thrust, and drag

• Lift, acceleration, mass, and drag

• Weight, acceleration, velocity, and drag

• Acceleration, lift, thrust, and velocity

What is the type of force that deals with an object moving through the air or air moving around an object?

• Aerodynamic

• Lift

• Thrust

• Velocity

What did the Wright Brothers spend so much time researching?

• Aircraft's speed and direction

• Wing's density and velocity

• Wing's shape and size

• Aircraft thrust and drag

Why should a pilot fly at a different airspeed for any given angle of attack to maintain lift in higher altitudes?

• The air is more dense

• The air is less dense

• The air is warmer

• The air is more humid

What should the pilot adjust to maintain lift on a dry day in the middle of winter compared to how he or she would fly on a humid day in the middle of summer?

• Nothing

• Fly at a lesser velocity

• Fly at a greater velocity

• Decrease your angle of attack

Why is weight always directed toward the center of the Earth?

• Because of the force of acceleration

• Because of the force of gravity

• Because the force of lift

• Because the friction of drag

What is NOT an aerodynamic force?

• Lift

• Drag

• Weight

• Mechanical

The motion of the airplane through the air depends on the relative strength and direction of the ______.

• Wind

• Four forces

• Angle of attack

• Aircraft velocity

What happens when the four forces are not in balance?

• The aircraft cruises at constant velocity

• The aircraft accelerates in the direction of the largest force

• The aircraft decelerated rapidly while losing cabin pressure

• More vertices will form

What do you need to do to maintain a constant airspeed?

• Decrease thrust

• Decrease lift

• Increase angle of attack

• Maintain equal lift and weight

• Maintain equal thrust and drag