Question

What precautions should be taken when landing a helicopter?

1) Ensure the landing area is flat, square, and clear of obstructions
2) Stop traffic going in both directions on a divided highway
3) Consider wind direction
4) Mark each corner of the landing area with a highly visible device
5) Put a warning device on the upwind side to designate wind direction
6) Wet down the landing area if conditions are dry and dusty
7) Keep personnel and crew clear of rotor wash
8) Assign one person to guide the pilot in
9) Give primary care to patients and follow the instructions of the pilot or crew members
10) Be extremely cautious about rotor blades
11) Never approach a helicopter until the pilot indicates it is safe
12) Secure all loose items
13) No one should smoke within 50 ft of the aircraft
14) Approach from the downhill side if on an incline
15) Never point spotlights up at a helicopter that is on its final approach at night

Answer 1

Helicopter pilots must maintain critical rotational kinetic energy in the blades for lift, which is vital to avoid crashes. Newton's third law is instrumental in understanding the behavior of helicopter rotors and the necessity of tail rotors or dual counter-rotating blades to counteract torque.

Step-by-step explanation:

When discussing helicopter dynamics, the importance of rotational kinetic energy is paramount. Helicopter pilots must ensure that the rotational kinetic energy of their blades does not drop below a critical level to maintain lift and avoid a crash. The engine's power is primarily used to maintain this energy and cannot support significant increases during flight. In cases where blades slow down, potential crashes might be avoided by using gravitational potential energy to increase blade rotation through a controlled descent. However, this is not possible if the altitude is too low.

Newton's Third Law and Helicopters

In relation to Newton's third law, the small propeller or tail rotor of a helicopter provides thrust in one direction to counteract the torque caused by the main rotor spinning in the opposite direction. In helicopters with dual rotors, the blades are configured to rotate in opposing directions to counteract each other's torque, negating the need for a tail rotor.