Helicopter Velocity - Calculating Speed of Air

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the speed of air that a helicopter's rotor pushes down while hovering at a height of 10 meters. The helicopter's weight and rotor diameter are provided as part of the context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to calculate the area of the rotor and question its relevance to determining the air speed. There is also exploration of how rotor size might influence air acceleration and velocity.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, questioning the necessity of certain calculations and exploring the relationship between rotor area and air velocity. Some guidance has been offered regarding the implications of rotor size on air acceleration.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on understanding the relationship between rotor area and the dynamics of air movement, with no consensus reached on the exact calculations needed.

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Homework Statement



A helicopter is hovering at a height of 10 meters. It weighs 6230 kg and the diameter of the rotos is 14.6 m. What is the speed of the air that the rotor is pushing down?

Homework Equations



How am I supposed to solve this problem?

The Attempt at a Solution



I'll probably need the area of the rotor but I haven't figured out why yet...
 
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With the diameter of the rotor you can calculate the size of the area, the air is pushed down to lift the helicopter.
 
Why do I need the area? Maybe to calculate the mass of the air?
 
Exactly. You have the possibility to accelerate air with a small rotor to high velocities or with a large rotor to lower velocities to generate the force, that lifts the helicopter. With the area you can define which velocity you need the air speeded up.
 

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