Which four forces act on a helicopter after it leaves the ground?

Which four forces act on a helicopter after it leaves the ground?

• A. Power, Drag, Lift, Weight
• B. Thrust, Rotor, Lift, Weight
• C. Drag, Lift, Rotor, Thrust
• D. Thrust, Drag, Lift, Weight

Answer: (D)

Four forces act on a helicopter once it’s airborne: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Lift is the upward force produced by the rotor that counters gravity. Weight pulls downward due to gravity. Thrust is the forward (propulsive) force generated by the rotor system that drives the helicopter through the air. Drag is the resistance the air provides opposing the motion. In flight, lift balances weight to keep altitude, while thrust balances drag to control forward speed. Power isn’t a force, and rotor is a mechanism, not a separate force, so options that use those terms aren’t correct. The combination of lift, weight, thrust, and drag best describes the forces acting on the helicopter after takeoff.

Four forces act on a helicopter once it’s airborne: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Lift is the upward force produced by the rotor that counters gravity. Weight pulls downward due to gravity. Thrust is the forward (propulsive) force generated by the rotor system that drives the helicopter through the air. Drag is the resistance the air provides opposing the motion.

In flight, lift balances weight to keep altitude, while thrust balances drag to control forward speed. Power isn’t a force, and rotor is a mechanism, not a separate force, so options that use those terms aren’t correct. The combination of lift, weight, thrust, and drag best describes the forces acting on the helicopter after takeoff.