Question

Specific total energy is ________

(a) the potential energy per unit mass

(b) the kinetic energy per unit mass

(c) the potential and kinetic energy per unit mass

(d) the potential and kinetic energy per unit time

This question was addressed to me in quiz.

This intriguing question originated from High Performance Climb topic in portion Climb and Descent Performance of Aircraft Performance

Answer 1

Correct option is (c) the potential and kinetic energy per unit mass

For explanation: Specific total energy is the potential and kinetic energy per unit mass. This is few times referred as the energy height as it represents the height of the aircraft would attain if all the kinetic energy is converted to potential energy.