Student Pilot Basic Aerodynamics Flashcards
7 cards from real SPC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Student Pilot Basic Aerodynamics flashcards as text
Which aerodynamic force acts perpendicular to the relative wind?
Answer: Lift
Lift always acts perpendicular to the relative wind, regardless of the aircraft's attitude.
What happens to induced drag as airspeed increases?
Answer: It decreases
Induced drag decreases as airspeed increases because less angle of attack is needed to generate the required lift.
The chord line of a wing is defined as:
Answer: An imaginary line from the leading edge to the trailing edge
The chord line is a straight imaginary line connecting the leading edge to the trailing edge of an airfoil.
What term describes the angle between the chord line and the relative wind?
Answer: Angle of attack
Angle of attack is the angle between the chord line of the wing and the direction of the relative wind.
During a coordinated level turn, total lift must be greater than weight because:
Answer: Only the vertical component of lift supports the aircraft's weight
In a bank, lift is divided into vertical and horizontal components, so the vertical component must equal weight, requiring total lift to increase.
What is the primary cause of parasite drag?
Answer: Interference between airflow and aircraft structure/skin friction
Parasite drag results from skin friction, form drag, and interference drag — all caused by the aircraft's physical structure moving through air.
What is the stagnation point on an airfoil?
Answer: The point where airflow velocity is zero and pressure is highest
The stagnation point is where the oncoming airflow splits around the airfoil, with velocity momentarily at zero and static pressure at maximum.