Intro to flight Aerospace 1 Flashcards
(31 cards)
Aero
Pertaining to air
Aerodynamics
Relating to the forces of air in motion
Aeronautics
The science of flight within the atmosphere
Aerospace
A combination of aeronautics and space
Air
A mixture of gases that contains approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases
Aircraft
Any machine that is capable of flying through the air; included are ultralights, airplanes, gliders, balloons, helicopters, hang gliders, and parasails.
Airfoil
A component, such as a wing, that is specifically designed to produce lift, thrust, or directional stability.
Aviation
The art, science, and technology of flight within the atmosphere.
Camber
The curved part of an airfoil, from its leading to trailing edge
Chord
A line drawn through an airfoil, from its leading to trailing edge.
Downwash
The downward movement of air behind a wing in flight.
Dynamic
Forces in motion.
Relative wind
The flow of air that moves opposite the flight path of an airplane.
Upwash
The upward movement of air ahead of the wing in flight.
Vortex
A spinning column of air that is created behind the wingtip as a result of air moving from an area of high pressure on the bottom to an area of low pressure on top.
Bernoulli’s principle
Discovered by the Dutch scientist Daniel Bernoulli;
When a fluid’s velocity (V1)—in this case, air—is flowing at low velocity, pressure (P1) is high. When air flows through a restriction, the velocity (V2) accelerates and pressure (P2) drops.
Newtons third law
Discovered by the Englishman Sir Isaac Newton; For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
Glide ratio
A mathematical relationship between the distance an aircraft will glide forward to the altitude loss. (If an aircraft has a glide ratio of 20 to 1, and it is one mile above the earth, it should glide 20 miles before landing.)
Lapse rate
The average rate at which temperature decreases with an increase in altitude. (The average lapse rate is 3.5°F per 1,000 ft. increase in altitude.)
Soaring
The art of staying aloft by exploiting the energy of the atmosphere.
Stability
The atmosphere’s resistance to vertical motion.
Thermal
A column of air that moves upward
Towplane
Usually a single-engine airplane that will pull a glider from the ground to an altitude where it can be released.
Wave
A strong up-and-down waving action that starts as air moves across mountain ranges. (Sailplane pilots can use the motion of this wave to gain altitude.)
