Mach tuck develops because a wing's center of pressure moves aft as speed increases toward Mach. This movement results in which moment?

Mach tuck develops because a wing's center of pressure moves aft as speed increases toward Mach. This movement results in which moment?

• A. Center of pressure moves aft with increasing speed toward Mach.
• B. Center of pressure moves forward with increasing speed.
• C. Wing camber changes with speed.
• D. Tailplane stalls at high speed.

Answer: (A)

Mach tuck happens because the wing’s center of pressure shifts toward the trailing edge as airspeed increases toward Mach. When the center of pressure moves aft, the lift force acts further behind the aircraft’s center of gravity, creating a nose-down pitching moment about the CG. In other words, the aft shift of the center of pressure is what generates the nose-down tendency that characterizes Mach tuck. The other statements don’t describe what actually happens: the center of pressure does not move forward with speed, wing camber isn’t the primary factor here, and tailplane stall is not the defining mechanism of Mach tuck.

Mach tuck happens because the wing’s center of pressure shifts toward the trailing edge as airspeed increases toward Mach. When the center of pressure moves aft, the lift force acts further behind the aircraft’s center of gravity, creating a nose-down pitching moment about the CG. In other words, the aft shift of the center of pressure is what generates the nose-down tendency that characterizes Mach tuck. The other statements don’t describe what actually happens: the center of pressure does not move forward with speed, wing camber isn’t the primary factor here, and tailplane stall is not the defining mechanism of Mach tuck.