In flight mechanics, the maximum change in kinetic energy (ΔKE_max) refers to the maximum alteration in an aircraft’s kinetic energy due to variations in its airspeed or velocity.
- ΔKE_max: This represents the maximum change in kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy associated with an object’s motion and is calculated as (1/2) * m * v^2, where “m” is the mass of the object, and “v” is its velocity. ΔKE_max represents the maximum increase or decrease in this energy due to airspeed variations.
- m: This is the mass of the aircraft or object. It is typically measured in kilograms (kg).
- u₀: This is the freestream airspeed or the initial velocity of the aircraft. It represents the speed at which the aircraft is traveling through the air and is typically measured in meters per second (m/s).
- Δu_max: This represents the maximum deviation or variation in airspeed (velocity) from the freestream airspeed u₀. It is typically measured in meters per second (m/s).