AMTE 113

THEORY OF FLIGHT

ENGR. JABES A. ISOLI

INSTRUCTOR
 TOPIC 1.0
BASIC AERODYNAMICS:
ELEMENTS OF AERODYNAMICS
 OBJECTIVES
 To know the basics of Aerodynamics
 To learn about the elements concerning Aerodynamics
 To application of theories based on Aerodynamics
 AERODYNAMICS

 Aerodynamics is derived from the Greek word “AERO”

means AIR and “Dynamis” which means POWER.
 Combining the two terms means “Air Power”. Thus,
Aerodynamics pertains to the science relating to the
effects of air or other gases in motion.
 Aerodynamics also defined as “the branch of dynamics
which treats of the motion of air and other gaseous
fluids and forces acting in motion relative to such fluids.”
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE AIR

 AIR is a mixture of several

gases.

 AIR has mass, weight, and

indefinite shape.

 Air, like any fluid, is able to

flow and change its shape
when subjected to even
minute pressures because
of the lack of strong
molecular cohesion.
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE AIR

 The earth’s atmosphere

is composed of
• 78% NITROGEN
• 21% OXYGEN
• 1% OTHER GASES, such
as argon or helium.
 THE ATMOSPHERE

 The atmosphere is the

whole mass of air
extending upward for
hundreds of miles.
 It may be compared with a
pile of blankets.
 Air in the higher altitudes
like top blanket of the pile,
it under less pressure than
the air in the lower
altitudes.
 AIR

 Air has weight and it can

be weighed.
 Air has molecules which
are separated from one
another the reason why
we cannot see it with our
eyes.
 Air have different
characteristics such as
pressure, density,
temperature, humidity,
and viscosity.
 PRESSURE (PRESYON/PABIGAT)
 Pressure may be defined as FORCE
acting upon a unit AREA.

 For example, if a force of 5lb is

acting against an area of 1 square
in., we say that there is a pressure
of 5 pounds per square inch (psi).

 We can conclude that as the

atmosphere which contains air goes
nearer the earth surface, the pull of
gravity presses that molecules of air
going down creating more mass
than at the higher altitude.
 PRESSURE (PRESYON/PABIGAT)
 Standard Atmospheric
Pressure at Sea Level (SL) is
equivalent to:
 29.92 inches of mercury
 14.7 pounds per square inch
 1013.2 millibars
 101325 pascal
 TEMPERATURE (TEMPERATURA)
 Temperature is defined as the
Hotness or Coldness measured on a
different scale.

 Temperature is the amount of

agitation of kinetic energy of the
molecules.

 Temperature can be measure by the

following:
 Celsius Scale
 Fahrenheit Scale
 Kelvin Scale
 Rankine Scale
 TEMPERATURE (TEMPERATURA)
 International Standard Atmospheric
Condition (ISAC)
 Standard atmospheric conditions are
based on a sea level temperature of 15
degrees Celsius (59 degrees
Fahrenheit).
 Standard Temperature Laps Rate
 Under standard conditions,
temperature decreases at
approximately 1.98 degrees Celsius for
each 1,000 feet of altitude until
reaching up to 38,000 feet. Above this
altitude the temperature remains at
approx. – 57 degrees Celsius.
 DENSITY (LAPOT/KAPAL)
 Density may defined as the MASS
per unit VOLUME. Thus, it is a
measurement that compares the
AMOUNT of MATTER an object has
to its VOLUME.

 For example, An object with MUCH

MATTER (molecules) in a certain
volume has HIGH DENSITY. An object
with LITTLE MATTER (molecules) in a
certain volume has LESS DENSITY.
 DENSITY (SIKSIK)
 We can conclude that the content of
molecules of air as altitude goes
higher can result to LESS DENSITY
(thinner) than at lower altitude
which is HIGH DENSITY (thicker).
 Density is also in relation to
Pressure and Temperature in certain
Altitude.
 DENSITY (SIKSIK)
 In a HIGH ALTITUDE, the molecules
of Air are LESS DENSE which can
result to GREATER SPEED and
DISTANCE with certain AMOUNT of
Power.
 In a LOW ALTITUDE, the molecules
of Air are MUCH DENSE which can
result to LESS SPEED and DISTANCE
with certain AMOUNT of Power.
 DENSITY ALTITUDE
 Is the altitude relative to the standard atmospheric conditions at which the
air DENSITY would be equal to the INDICATED air density at the place of
observation.

 The DENSITY ALTITUDE is the air density given as a height above mean sea
level.

 When the conditions are standard: PRESSURE ALTITUDE = DENSITY

ALTITUDE

 If the TEMPERATURE is ABOVE STANDARD: PRESSURE ALTITUDE < DENSITY

ALTITUDE

 If the TEMPERATURE is BELOW STANDARD: PRESSURE ALTITUDE > DENSITY

ALTITUDE
 DENSITY ALTITUDE
 Example, A density
altitude of 10,000 feet
is the altitude at which
the density is the same
as the considered
standard for 10,000
feet.
 FACTORS AFFECTING DENSITY
 The water content of
the air has a SLIGHT
EFFECT on the DENSITY
of the Air.

 It should remember
that HUMID AIR at a
given TEMPERATURE
and PRESSURE is
LIGHTER than DRY AIR
at the same
TEMPERATURE and
PRESSURE.
 HUMIDITY (ALINSANGAN)
 Humidity is a condition of
MOISTURE or DUMPNESS.

 The maximum AMOUNT OF WATER

VAPOR that the air can hold
depending on the temperature.

 The HIGHER the TEMPERATURE of

the Air, the MORE WATER VAPOR it
can absorb.
 HUMIDITY (ALINSANGAN)
 Flying an airplane in DRY
DAY where the air vapor
is less is more
advantageous than flying
at HUMID DAY.
 The reason is that the
water vapor in the air
gives additional weight
thus giving longer time
for the aircraft to take off.
 EFFECT OF HUMIDITY TO DENSITY
 FOG and HUMIDITY both
affect the performance of
an aircraft.

 There are three types of

humidity

1. Absolute Humidity

2. Relative Humidity

3. Dew Point
 ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY
 ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY refers to
the ACTUAL AMOUNT OF
WATER VAPOR in a mixture of
air and water.

 The AMOUNT OF WATER

VAPOR the air can hold VARIES
with AIR TEMPERATURE.

 The HIGHER the air

temperature the MORE water
vapor the air can HOLD.
 RELATIVE HUMIDITY
 RELATIVE HUMIDITY is the RATIO
between the amount of moisture
in the air to the amount that
would be present if the air is
SATURATED.

 For example, a relative humidity

of 95% that the air is holding 95
percent of total water vapor it is
capable of holding.

 This means that in HIGH

HUMIDITY conditions the density
of the air is LESS than of the DRY
air.
 DEW POINT (HAMOG)
 It is the temperature at which air
REACHES a state where it CAN
HOLD NO MORE water.

 When the dew point is reached,

the air contains 100 percent of
the moisture it can hold at that
temperature, and is said to be
SATURATED.
 VISCOSITY (LAGKIT)
 It is the state of being thick, sticky,
and semifluid in consistency, due to
internal friction.

 Viscosity is a measure of fluids

resistance to flow. It describes the
internal friction of a moving fluid.

 If the TEMPERATURE of AIR is

HIGHER, the VISCOSITY is GREATER
than the air at LOW
TEMPERATURE.
 AIR CURRENT
 Air current are movements
of the air with respect to
the earth.
 If Air is RISING from the
earth, it is called a VERTICAL
CURRENT or THERMAL.
 THERMAL CURRENTS (also
called convection currents,
air pockets, and air bumps)
are often occur over sandy
beaches and freshly plowed
fields, in desert areas, and
in other places where the
air is unstable.
 RELATIVE MOTION
 Relative motion is the relationship
of two entities (object) as it moves.

 For example, the relative motion

between the train and the horse.

 Therefore, if the airplane is flying

the relative motion is between the
airplane itself and the air in order
for it to fly.
END TOPIC