R V College of Engineering, Bengaluru

(Autonomous Institute under VTU, Belagavi)

Department of Aerospace Engineering

Assignment – I
15AS33 – Basics of Aerospace Engineering

PART - A
1. ………………. and ……………… flew the world’s first powered aircraft.
2. Within the troposphere, as the altitude increases, the pressure …………………..
3. Bernoulli’s law states that in inviscid fluid flow, the …………… remains constant.
4. Acoustic speed in air at 300 K is …………… m/s
5. In an aircraft, the yaw movement is provided by…………………
6. In an aircraft, the roll movement is provided by …………………
7. In an aircraft, the Pitch movement is provided by ………………….
8. Early aircraft could not fly beyond about 3000m altitude because …………
9. The weight is balanced by …………….. In an aircraft in level flight.
10. Absolute altitude of an aircraft is measured with respect to …………………
11. Empennage is another name for ……………… of an aircraft.
12. Drag produced as part of lift is called …………………….. drag.
13. ………………….. is the hottest layer of upper atmosphere.
14. For a satellite in circular orbit, the orbital speed will ……………… with altitude.
15. Inclination of a satellite orbit is the angle between………….. and ………….
16. In an elliptical satellite orbit, the farthest point from earth is called …………….
17. In an elliptical satellite orbit, the satellite closest to the earth is called …………….
18. As angle of attack increases, the centre of pressure of an airfoil moves towards ………….
19. Angle of attack for a given airfoil to balance a given weight will …………. at low speed.
20. A second rotor counteracts the torque on the body of helicopter due to …………….
21. In 1975, the first Indian satellite, ………………. was launched using a Russian rocket.
22. Escape velocity is when the orbit becomes ……………… and the satellite leaves Earth orbit.
23. In fluid flows, a ………………….. is a point where the local velocity of the fluid is zero
24. ………………. fluids do not undergo significant changes in density.
25. ………………. fluids undergo measurable changes in density
26. ………………… is the velocity of sound in a fluid medium.
27. For landing thrust must be less than ……….. and lift must be less than …………...

PART - B
Each question carries 5 marks
1. Draw and explain Profile of a typical commercial flight
2. Explain International Standard atmosphere.
3. Classification based on categories of flight.
4. Briefly describe Landing gear and types of landing gears.
5. Write 5 general observation of STEALTH.
6. Draw a neat sketch of an aircraft indicating its parts and their function.
7. With examples, explain the principle of working of a lighter than air and heavier than air flying
machine.
8. Sketch a conventional aircraft and identify the following parts on it:
1). Ailerons (2) Slats and (3) Horizontal stabilizer
9. Define “centre of pressure” as applicable to an aircraft wing. Describe the effect of varying the angle of
attack on the location of centre of pressure for a wing cross section.
10. An aircraft has an effective wing area of 50 m2. It is in level flight at a speed of 600km/hr at an altitude
where the air density is 0.467 kg/m3. If the weight of the aircraft is 292 KN, find the coefficient of lift
(CL) for the wing section. If the coefficient drag is 10% of CL, determine the minimum thrust required
for the level flight.
11. Starting from the first principles derive expressions for speed (V) and orbital period (t) of a satellite in
circular orbit at an altitude ‘h’ above the earth. Assume universal gravitational constant G = 6.674x10-11
N- (m/kg)2, radius of earth = 6370 km and mass of earth = 5.967 x 1024 kg.
12. List the six “orbital elements” necessary to describe an orbit and discuss any two of them in brief.
13. With diagrams discuss the force balance in an aircraft during climb and descent.
14. With reference to Newton’s thought experiment, explain how a satellite in orbit can be said to be in
continuous free fall.
15. Write 3 differences between motion in Space Vs motion in atmosphere.
16. Using the fundamental conservation equations explain Bernoulli’s theorem.
17. With example explain NACA 4 digit series.
18. With the help of neat sketch explain AOA, Resultant force, lift, drag and centre of pressure.
19. Describe the following with short notes:
I. Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.
II. Energy conservation of satellite in elliptical orbit.
III. Force balance in aircraft in level flight.
IV. Finite and infinite airfoil.

R V College of Engineering, Bengaluru

(Autonomous Institute under VTU, Belagavi)

Department of Aerospace Engineering

Assignment – I
15AS33 – Basics of Aerospace Engineering

PART - A
1. All other parameters remaining constant an airfoil produces …………lift at lower altitude.
2. Engine thrust is minimum when induced drag is equal to …………… drag.
3. In an air standard Brayton cycle, heat addition occurs at constant ………………
4. Thermal efficiency of turbojet engine inceases with …………… in compressor inlet temperature.
5. Thrust developed by a jet engine decreases with increase in altitude because ……………
6. Thrust developed by a rocket increases with increase in altitude because ……………
7. A gear box is required in a turboprop engine to ……………….
8. Thrust power of a jet engine is the product of ……………….. and …………………
9. Main disadvantage of ramjet is ………………
10. Total impulse of a rocket with variable thrust is given by the expression I1= …………………
11. If a rocket has a thrust of 15 KN and flies for 100 s consuming 15 Kg/s of propellant, the total impulse is
……………….. Ns.
12. Ammonium perchlorate functions as ………………. in solid propellant rockets.
13. In a progressive burning solid propellant grain, thrust ………… with time.
14. Final speed of rocket will be high if the mass ratio is …………………….
15. If a rocket’s characteristic velocity is 2305 m/s, then the specific impulse is …………. Sec.
16. ……………….. propellant rockets can be tested before flight.
17. Gas pressure is fed liquid rocket is suited for …………….. total impulse missions.
18. All of the fuel passes through a pre-burner in a ……………. Cycle turbopump fed rocket
19. ………………… propellants do not need an igniter.
20. Materials used in the construction of aircraft should have high ……………….. ratio.
21. Almost all imposed loads are taken by the ……………….. in a monocoque type fuselage.
22. Wing structural members extending from fuselage to wing tip are called ………………
23. An aircraft is said to be …………….. if it moves away from its initial position when disturbed.
24. If an aircraft has positive dynamic stability, the ……………. Of disturbance decreases in flight
direction.
25. ……………….. angle ensures longitudinal stability of an aircraft.
26. …………….. is a non-metallic material used I the construction of primary aircraft structure.
27. A cryogenic rocket thrust chamber requires ………….. to start combustion of propellants.
28. Metal …………… happens when a component is subjected to stress reversals.
29. Slosh is a disadvantage observed in ………………. Propellant rocket systems.
30. An aircraft tends towards instability of CM Vs αa characeteristic has …………… slope.

PART - B
Each question carries 5 marks

1. Describe how the thermal efficiency of a turbojet engine is affected by turbine inlet temperature and the
pressure ratio.
2. Briefly describe five major differences between a rocket engine and a turbo jet engine.
3. Write the equation for a drag polar. Using a sketch of drag polar discuss two main interpretations which
can be made from it.
4. A jet engine operating on Brayton cycle has the following data.
Compressor inlet and outlet temperatures = 20 c and 200 c respectively. Turbine inlet and outlet
temperatures = 600 c and 210 c. If the compressor draws 55 kg/s of air, calculate the net power output of
the turbine. Assume Cp = 1.005 KJ/Kg. K.
5. What is after burning as applied to jet engines. Show the process of after burning on a T- s diagram and
list its advantages and disadvantages.
6. With a sketch, discuss the operating principle of a scramjet engine. How is it different from ramjet
engine.
7. Define specific impulse of a rocket engine. If a rocket operates for 300 s at a constant thrust of 12 kN
using a propellant having specific impulse of 190 s, find
a) Total Impuse
b) Rate of propellant consumption.
8. Define “mass ratio” and describe its influence on performance of a rocket.
9. Describe Classification of rockets with short notes.
10. With short notes explain factors affecting lift and drag on an aircraft.
11. With neat schematic diagram explain the working of gas pressure fed liquid rocket engine.
12. Identify and describe three advantages and three disadvantages of liquid propellant rockets.
 13. Compare space environment with that on earth’s surface. With reference to space environment, discuss
the challenges in space vehicle design.
14. Using stress – strain plots analyze the differences between ductile and brittle materials.
15. List and explain applications of two metallic and two non-metallic materials in construction of aircraft.
16. With examples distinguish concepts of positive, neutral and negative static stability.
17. Explain the necessary conditions for longitudinal stability of an aircraft.
18. Explain how “Stability” aand “control” are achieved along longitudinal axis of an aircraft in level flight.
19. Explain Monocoque and semi-monocoque fuselage.
20. With short notes explain Cryogenic rockets.

AERODYNAMICS
ONE AND TWO MARKS QUESTIONS
1. The Aerodynamic Forces & Moments generated on the body moving through air are entirely due to
_____________
2. Define Aerodynamic Coefficient of Lift. Give its mathematical expression and also explain the terms involved.
3. Streamlining of any aerodynamic body results in the reduction of _____________ of that body.
4. The location of centre of pressure on the chord of a cambered airfoil is not fixed/constant and it varies with
_____________ α .
5. In the airplane's normal range of flight attitudes, if the angle of attack is _____________, the centre of pressure
moves _____________ and if α is _____________ then the centre of pressure moves _____________.
6. The centre of pressure for a symmetrical airfoil is located closely to the _____________
7. Define coefficient of pressure.
8. If the planform area of a wing increases, then the Aspect ratio of the wing _____________.
9. The _____________ is the maximum distance between the mean camber line and the chord line, measured
perpendicular to the chord line.
10. Define stalling.
11. An airfoil with zero camber is termed as _____________ airfoil.
12. An airfoil which generates finite lift even at zero degree angle of attack is known as _____________ airfoil.
13. The location on the airfoil, where the moment is independent of angle of attack is known as _____________.
14. Mounting an external tip tanks at the wing tips of a fighter aircraft will facilitate in reducing _____________
drag.
15. Consider two different airplanes, one Boeing 747-400 and a Sukhoi-30MKI both cruising at an altitude of
7000 meters from sea level at 600Kmph. The wing surface area of Boeing 747-400 is around 525m2 and that
of Sukhoi-30MKI around 62m2. At a given speed and altitude, of the two above given aircrafts, which one
will be subjected to the highest skin friction drag and why?
16. In _________________________ airfoils, the maximum distance between the mean camber line and the chord
line will be zero
17. _____________________ is an aerodynamic force acting perpendicular to the chord of a cambered airfoil.
0
18. A cambered airfoil is being tested in a low subsonic wind tunnel at M=0.3 at an angle of attack α=2 . The
flow occurring on the top and bottom surface of the cambered airfoil is laminar and highly streamlined. If we
consider any two streamlines on the top surface of the airfoil, then the total mechanical energy comprising of
Pressure energy, Kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy at two points on two different streamlines
will be ______________.
19. The aerodynamic drag generated on any solid body moving through the atmosphere, is a direct result of
Integration of _________________ distribution on the body
20. The coefficient of drag of an airfoil will be _______________ when compared to a sphere.
21. Consider a large cargo aircraft and a medium sized aircraft, both cruising at an altitude of 6,000 meters from
the ground. The lift forces generated by the two aircrafts are 50,000 KN and 3,000 KN. Imagine the wings of
both the aircrafts to be entirely composed of NACA 24012 airfoil from root to tip. Then the drag coefficient
produced by the large aircraft will be ____________________ when compared to the drag coefficient of the
medium sized aircraft.

FIVE MARKS QUESTIONS

1. Draw a neat sketch of a typical airfoil and explain their nomenclature.
2. With neat sketches, explain the pressure distributions on a typical airfoil at various angles of attack.
3. With neat sketches, explain the four types of fluid element trajectories in a fluid flow.
4. What is form drag. Explain the various types of form drags, illustrating with neat sketches.
5. Define Drag. List the different types of drag acting on an aircraft and explain their sources.
6. With a neat sketch explain the behaviour of an airfoil with variation in angle of attack.
7. What does NACA stand for. Explain the geometrical features of NACA 2414.
8. Illustrating a neat sketch of an airplane wing, identify and explain the geometrical terms involved.
9. Define Aerodynamic centre. Explain the significance of adopting the aerodynamic centre for aerodynamic
analysis of airfoils.
10. The Boeing 777 has a wing planform area of 427 m 2. Assuming a takeoff weight of 2250kN and a takeoff
velocity of 71.5m/s, Calculate the lift coefficient at take off for standard sea level conditions and when the
aircraft is cruising at M0.83 at 30,000ft.

EIGHT MARKS QUESTIONS

1. For a given body shape and free stream conditions, derive the equations to calculate the aerodynamic forces and
moments generated on a body due to the pressure and shear stress distributions on the body.
2. With neat sketches, explain the pressure distributions on a typical airfoil at various angles of attack.
3. Describe the physical implications of varying the angle of attack of an airfoil for various aerodynamic
coefficients. Illustrate the variation on suitable plots.
4. An aircraft has an effective wing area of 78m2. It is in level flight at a speed of 750km/h at an altitude where the
density is 0.467kg/m3. If the weight of the aircraft is 495kN. Find the coefficient of lift for the wing section. If
the coefficient of drag is 10% of the CL. Determine the thrust required for the level flight.
5. What is stalling. Explain the physical phenomenon of the occurrence of stall with respect to the airfoils angle of
attack.
6. Mention the various types of drag that occurs on an airplane in flight. With neat sketches, describe the reasons
for their occurring and also their implications on the aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil.
7. With a neat sketch, explain Induced drag. Also mention the methods by which the induced drag can be
minimized.
8. State Bernoulli's principle. Explain the physical phenomenon of lift generation on a symmetric airfoil invoking
Bernoulli's theorem.
 PROPULSION
ONE AND TWO MARKS QUESTIONS
1. Imagine a simple gas turbine engine working on an Ideal Brayton cycle (Neglect loses in the cycle). In
case of any possible combustion chamber failure, what will be the net work output of the cycle.
2. List any four significant functions of an Inlet duct or a diffuser in a turbojet engine
3. Mention the basic thermodynamic processes involved in the working of a true turbojet engine.
4. Reduction Gear is a characteristic feature of all variants of turboprop and turbofan engines. Justify?
5. With the help of P-V & T-S diagrams, bring out at least two reasons for the deviation of Brayton cycle
from Ideal conditions.
6. What is the need of incorporating an engine on an aircraft.
7. Give at least 4 disadvantages of I C engines over gas turbine engines.
8. Mention the various thermodynamic processes occurring in an internal combustion engine.
9. Identify the basic parts of a turboprop engine.
10. Can a true turbojet engine be used as a propelling device for rockets? Justify.
11. Conclude the importance of incorporating an inlet diffuser to a turbojet engine.
12. In a ramjet engine, the ___________ causes the deceleration of the atmospheric air from high
supersonic speeds to low supersonic speeds.
13. The thrust generated by a turbojet engine is high, when the Inlet Momentum is_______.
14. The thrust generated at sea level by a pure turbojet engine is always less compared to a turbofan or a
turboprop engine. Explain.

FIVE MARKS QUESTIONS

1. What is the role of a compressor in a simple gas turbine engine.
2. Give the detailed classification of aircraft powerplants.
3. Bring out important differences between a turboprop engine and a turboshaft engine.
4. Draw the anatomy of a rocket and identify the important systems present in a rocket.
5. What is a scram jet engine. Explain the process of compression in a typical scram jet engine.
6. What are rotary piston engines. Write a short note about it.
7. Explain the working of a radial engine used for aircraft applications. Also highlight their advantages and
disadvantages.
8. With a neat sketch of a solid propellant rocket, describe its principle of operation.
9. List the merits and demerits of reciprocating engines over gas turbine engines.
10. Give the detailed classification of Internal combustion engines for aircraft applications.

EIGHT MARKS QUESTIONS

1. How do you convert a pure gas turbine engine to a turbojet engine. Also explain the working of a
Turbojet engine with P-V and T-S diagrams.
2. List the basic components of a pure turbojet engine. Describe the working principle of a pure turbojet
engine illustrating on P-V and T-s diagrams.
3. Identifying the important components of a ramjet engine, describe its operating procedure.
4. Illustrating the P-V and T-s diagrams, explain the causes for deviation of a Brayton cycle from the Ideal
case.
5. With the help of neat sketches, explain the working of a turboprop engine and give their general
characteristics.
6. Describe the working principle of a turboprop engine. Also list the various merits and demerits of a
typical turboprop engine.
7. Explain in detail, the characteristics of a typical turbofan engine.
8. Describe briefly about the significance of space travel and space tourism.