Flight's Forces

Front

What are the four main forces acting on an airplane during flight?

Back

Lift, Weight, Thrust, Drag.

Front

What is Lift?

Back

Lift is the force that directly opposes the weight of an airplane and holds the airplane in the air.

Front

What is Weight in the context of flight?

Back

Weight is the force exerted by gravity on the airplane, pulling it downward.

Front

What is Thrust?

Back

Thrust is the forward force produced by the airplane's engines that propels it through the air.

Front

What is Drag?

Back

Drag is the resistance force that opposes an airplane's motion through the air.

Front

What happens during the Take-off phase of flight?

Back

During take-off, thrust increases to overcome weight and drag, allowing the airplane to lift off the ground.

Front

What happens during the Cruising phase of flight?

Back

During cruising, thrust equals drag, and lift equals weight, allowing the airplane to maintain a steady altitude and speed.

Front

What happens during the Landing phase of flight?

Back

During landing, thrust decreases, and lift is reduced to allow the airplane to descend safely to the ground.

Front

How does an airplane maintain a constant speed?

Back

An airplane maintains a constant speed when the force of thrust equals the force of drag.

Front

How does an airplane maintain a constant altitude?

Back

An airplane maintains a constant altitude when the force of lift equals the force of weight.