What is the difference between a chord line and a mean camber line?
The mean camber line is an important aspect of airfoil design, as it determines the airfoil's lift characteristics. The curvature of the mean camber line, known as the camber, affects the distribution of pressure on the upper and lower surfaces of the airfoil, which in turn affects the lift generated by the airfoil. A higher camber will result in more lift being generated at lower speeds, while a lower camber will result in less lift at lower speeds but more at higher speeds.
The chord line, on the other hand, is used to define the size and shape of the airfoil. It is a straight line that connects the leading and trailing edges of the airfoil and is used as a reference for measuring the airfoil's thickness and other geometric characteristics.
Together, the chord line and mean camber line are used to define the overall shape and performance of an airfoil. The combination of these two lines determines the overall lift, drag, and stall characteristics of an airfoil, and engineers use these characteristics to design airfoils that are optimized for specific flight conditions and aircraft applications.