Which component provides the anti-torque force to counter main rotor torque?

Which component provides the anti-torque force to counter main rotor torque?

• A. Tail rotor
• B. Main rotor
• C. Ailerons
• D. Elevators

Answer: (A)

Anti-torque balance in a single-rotor helicopter is achieved by the tail rotor. When the main rotor spins, it tends to rotate the fuselage in the opposite direction due to Newton’s third law. The tail rotor provides thrust at the tail, creating a counteracting torque that keeps the helicopter from spinning and allows the pilot to control yaw by changing the tail rotor thrust. Ailerons and elevators control roll and pitch, not the anti-torque balance, and the main rotor is the source of the torque, not the counteracting force.

Anti-torque balance in a single-rotor helicopter is achieved by the tail rotor. When the main rotor spins, it tends to rotate the fuselage in the opposite direction due to Newton’s third law. The tail rotor provides thrust at the tail, creating a counteracting torque that keeps the helicopter from spinning and allows the pilot to control yaw by changing the tail rotor thrust. Ailerons and elevators control roll and pitch, not the anti-torque balance, and the main rotor is the source of the torque, not the counteracting force.