What happens to the CG when cargo is added aft of the CGA?

What happens to the CG when cargo is added aft of the CGA?

• A. The CG moves forward and % of MAC decreases
• B. The CG moves backward and % of MAC increases
• C. The CG moves upward and gross weight decreases
• D. The CG moves backward and % of MAC decreases

Answer: (D)

When cargo is added aft of the center of gravity (CG) reference point, the center of gravity itself shifts backward. This shift is due to the added weight of the cargo being located behind the original CG position. As cargo is placed at this new location, the overall weight distribution of the aircraft changes, resulting in a backward movement of the CG. Additionally, the percentage of Mean Aerodynamic Chord (MAC) is impacted by this shift. MAC is a representation of the chord length of the aircraft's wings, and it is used as a reference for determining the position of the center of gravity. As the CG moves farther back, the percentage of MAC occupied by the CG decreases because the CG is moving further from the leading edge of the MAC, but as a portion of the entire aerodynamic structure, the percentage diminishes. Thus, adding cargo aft of the CGA not only results in a backward movement of the CG but also causes the percentage of MAC to decrease, making this the correct response to the question about the effects of adding cargo in that position.

When cargo is added aft of the center of gravity (CG) reference point, the center of gravity itself shifts backward. This shift is due to the added weight of the cargo being located behind the original CG position. As cargo is placed at this new location, the overall weight distribution of the aircraft changes, resulting in a backward movement of the CG.

Additionally, the percentage of Mean Aerodynamic Chord (MAC) is impacted by this shift. MAC is a representation of the chord length of the aircraft's wings, and it is used as a reference for determining the position of the center of gravity. As the CG moves farther back, the percentage of MAC occupied by the CG decreases because the CG is moving further from the leading edge of the MAC, but as a portion of the entire aerodynamic structure, the percentage diminishes.

Thus, adding cargo aft of the CGA not only results in a backward movement of the CG but also causes the percentage of MAC to decrease, making this the correct response to the question about the effects of adding cargo in that position.