Chapter 9 Flashcards
What are wing tip vortices?
It is the air flowing around the side of the wing from the high pressure environment to the low pressure environment. This causes them to rotate towards the aircraft.
What happens to wing tip vortices when the angle of attack is increased?
The difference in pressure between the upper and lower surfaces increases creating bigger vortices.
What is span wise flow.
Spanwise flow is caused by the pressure gradient along the wing. Above the wing the flow is towards the Body of the wing. Below the wing the flow is towards the tip of the wing. This is because the wing tip vortices move the air from high pressure to low pressure.
What is wake turbulence?
Is is the vortices from the tips of the wings. It migrates down with the wash and stabilises around 900ft below the aircraft. Hazardous turbulence can extend for several miles behind the aircraft.
When is wake turbulence at its worst.
When the aircraft is slow and heavy.
What is effective airflow?
It is at an angle to the relative airflow because the wing modifies the direction of the flow
