Loading & PerformanceQuestion 83 of 100
You bolt a 2 lb sensor onto one arm of a quadcopter instead of mounting it on the centerline. What is the most likely result?
a.The motors on the loaded side must work harder, reducing stability and endurance
b.The flight controller physically shifts the center of gravity back to the center
c.The aircraft climbs faster because the offset mass adds downward momentum
d.The aircraft becomes more stable because the extra mass dampens every input
Explanation
An off-center payload moves the center of gravity away from the manufacturer's limits, so the motors nearest the load must run at higher power just to hold the aircraft level. That constant correction burns battery faster and leaves less control authority for wind or maneuvering. A flight controller can trim for a small imbalance electronically, but it cannot move mass, and extra weight never improves climb performance or stability.
Practice all 100 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- A quadcopter has an empty airframe weight of 6.8 lbs. You plan to fly it with two batteries weighing 1.9 lbs each and a gimbal camera weighing 1.4 lbs. The manufacturer lists a maximum takeoff weight of 13.2 lbs. How much additional payload may you add?
- Under Part 107, what does the 55 lb (25 kg) weight limit for a small unmanned aircraft refer to?
- Your quadcopter normally flies about 24 minutes on a full battery at 70 °F. You are launching on a 25 °F morning, and the manufacturer warns that cold can reduce usable battery capacity by roughly 25%. About how much flight time should you plan for?
- How does loading a small UAS close to its maximum takeoff weight affect its performance?
- You are launching a fully loaded multirotor from a mountain meadow at 7,500 ft MSL on a hot afternoon. How does the high density altitude affect performance?
- A fixed-wing sUAS has an empty airframe weight of 38.5 lbs. You install a 9.2 lb battery pack, a 5.4 lb sensor pod, and 1.3 lbs of mounting hardware. May this aircraft be flown under Part 107?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass Editorial Team · Verified against FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate Knowledge Test · How we review