AQT Aerodynamics & Flight Principles Flashcards
6 cards from real AQT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 AQT Aerodynamics & Flight Principles flashcards as text
What causes an aircraft to yaw when ailerons are deflected?
Answer: Adverse yaw
Adverse yaw occurs because the raised aileron on the down-going wing creates more drag than the lowered aileron on the up-going wing, causing the nose to yaw opposite the intended turn.
What is the purpose of a wing's dihedral angle?
Answer: Improve lateral stability
Dihedral (upward tilt of wings) improves lateral (roll) stability by creating a self-correcting restoring force when the aircraft rolls.
What is a spanwise flow, and why is it relevant to wing design?
Answer: Flow from root to tip along the wing; contributes to tip vortices
Spanwise flow moves from the wing root toward the wingtip and contributes to the formation of tip vortices, which create induced drag.
What happens to lift if airspeed doubles while all other factors remain constant?
Answer: Lift quadruples
Lift is proportional to the square of velocity, so doubling airspeed results in four times the lift (2² = 4).
What is a 'Dutch roll' in aviation?
Answer: Combined oscillating roll and yaw motion
Dutch roll is an oscillating combination of rolling and yawing motion that can occur in swept-wing aircraft due to their lateral-directional characteristics.
What is the relationship between airspeed and the power required to maintain level flight?
Answer: There is a minimum power speed; power increases at both higher and lower speeds
The power required curve has a minimum at a specific airspeed; flying slower requires more power due to high induced drag, while flying faster requires more power due to high parasite drag.