Multiple choice

The vertical speed indicator in an airplane measures

  1. forward speed of the airplane

  2. gravity acting on the body of the airplane

  3. rate of climb or descent

  4. none of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) measures and displays the rate of climb or descent in feet per minute. It works by detecting pressure changes in a calibrated chamber as the aircraft altitude changes. A climb shows a positive indication, while descent shows negative. The instrument has a lag due to its design but provides crucial trend information.