composite separation (air traffic control). A method of separating aircraft in a composite route system where, by management of route and altitude assignments, a combination of half the lateral minimum specified for the area concerned and half the vertical minimum is applied.
composite structure. A type of aircraft structure made of plastic resins reinforced with strong, lightweight filaments. Fiberglass, carbon, Kevlar., and boron are materials used for composite structure. Composite materials combine high strength and rigidity with light weight.
composition resistor (electrical component). A resistor made of a mixture of carbon and an insulating material. The mixture is molded inside a protective insulation with a wire lead extending radially from each end.
The ohmic value of the resistor is determined by the percentage of insulating material in the mixture, and the physical size determines the amount of heat the resistor can dissipate. The resistance, in ohms, is marked by a series of colored bands around one end.
compound (chemical). See chemical compound.
compound curve. A curve formed in more than one plane. The surface of a sphere is a compound curve.
compound gage. A pressure gage used to measure the pressure in the low side of an air conditioning system. A compound gage is calibrated from zero to 30-inches of mercury, negative, and from zero to about 150-pounds-per-square-inch positive pressure.
compound lever. A series of levers connected in such a way that the output of one lever is used as the input of another. Compound levers are used to multiply force.
compound-wound generator (electrical generator). An electrical generator which has both a series and a shunt field winding.
compound-wound motor (electric motor). An electric motor which has both a series and a shunt field winding. A series motor has a high starting torque, but poor speed control. A shunt motor has a low starting torque, but good speed control. A compound motor has some of the good characteristics of both types of motors.
compressed air. Air whose pressure has been increased above that of the ambient, or surrounding, air by some form of mechanical compressor.
compressibility. The ability of the material to be reduced in volume by the application of pressure. Air is a compressible fluid, and soft rubber is a compressible solid.
compressibility effect. The sudden increase in the total drag of an airfoil in transonic flight caused by formation of shock waves on the surface.
compressibility error (flight instrument error). The airspeed indicator error caused by compression of the air at the forward end of the pitot tube. This compression is caused by the pitot tube moving through the air at a speed greater than the speed of sound.
compressible flow (aerodynamics). The flow of a fluid in which the density of the fluid varies. Compressible flow is encountered in supersonic flight.
compressible fluid. A fluid to which energy can be added by compressing, or squeezing it into a smaller volume. Gases are compressible fluids.
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