In flight mechanics, the “vertical force component” refers to the net force acting vertically on an aircraft. This force is a result of the balance between the aircraft’s weight and the lift generated by its wings. It determines whether the aircraft is climbing, descending, or maintaining level flight in the vertical direction.
Z = mz
- is the vertical force component, which is the net force acting vertically on the aircraft. It takes into account the balance between lift and weight forces.
- is the mass of the aircraft.
- is the acceleration due to gravity. On Earth’s surface, this is approximately 9.81 m/s2, but it can vary slightly depending on the location.