Final answer:
In aviation, a system that determines the aircraft's weight and calculates the center of gravity is essential for balance and stability in flight. Accurate CG calculations are crucial for flight safety, as evidenced by historical mishaps such as the 'Gimli Glider' incident, which resulted from a misunderstanding in fuel weight units during Canada's metrication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about a system on board an aircraft that weighs the aircraft and its payload and then calculates the center of gravity (CG). This system factors in the center of mass and takes into consideration the mass distribution to determine the CG, which is the weighted average position of the mass within a closed system. The significance of accurately calculating the CG is evident from historical incidents, such as the incorrect fueling of a Boeing 767 due to the confusion between metric and English units, underscoring the importance of unit consistency and accurate measurements in ensuring flight safety.
The concept of the center of gravity being the point where the body's total weight is assumed to be concentrated is essential for aircraft balance and stability. When forces act through the CG, they produce translational motion rather than rotation, which is vital for the control of an aircraft. Moreover, in an accelerated frame of reference like a descending cargo aircraft during astronaut training for weightlessness, the experience of weightlessness is because the acceleration is equal to g, effectively reducing the apparent weight to zero.