How Do Helicopters Stay Balanced?

Why do helicopters have a small propeller on their tail?

According to Newton's third law, what causes the helicopter body to rotate in the opposite direction to the blades?

Answer:

The small propeller on the tail of helicopters helps them stay balanced by counteracting the rotation caused by the main lifting blades.

Helicopters have a small propeller on their tail to keep them from rotating in the opposite direction of their main lifting blades. This is due to Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

When the main lifting blades of a helicopter push the air downwards to create lift, it generates an equal and opposite reaction force that causes the helicopter body to rotate in the opposite direction. In order to prevent this rotation and maintain balance, the small propeller on the tail of the helicopter exerts a thrust in the opposite direction to stabilize the aircraft.

This design feature allows helicopters to remain balanced and steady during flight by counteracting the rotational forces produced by the main lifting blades. The combination of the main blades and the tail propeller working together helps to keep the helicopter in control and allows for smooth flying.

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