Question

Almost all the forces acting on aircraft can be categorized as _____

(a) body or surface forces

(b) body forces only

(c) only as surface force

(d) neither body nor surface force

This question was posed to me during a job interview.

My doubt is from Loads Categories in chapter Structures and Loads of Aircraft Design

Answer 1

Right choice is (a) body or surface forces

To explain I would say: Typically, all aircraft forces are categorized as body forces or surface forces. Body forces are those forces which are acting through volume of the body. Typical example of body force is force due to gravity. Surface force is acting through surface of an object such as shear force.