Question

For a supersonic flow over a right – circular cone at zero angle of attack, what are the flow properties a function of?

(a) Polar angle

(b) Azimuth angle

(c) Mach number

(d) Conical ray distance

The question was asked in a job interview.

The query is from Cones at Angle of Attack topic in section Three-Dimensional Flow of Aerodynamics

Answer 1

The correct option is (a) Polar angle

Easiest explanation: When a right – circular cone is kept at a zero angle of attack in a supersonic flow, the flow properties are only a function of polar angle θ. It is independent of the azimuth angle ϕ and the distance from the vertex along conical ray.