What influence does gross mass have on descent speed?

In the context of aviation, it is important to understand how gross mass, which refers to the total weight of an aircraft including payload and fuel, affects the performance of the aircraft during descent. When an aircraft is heavier, it has more inertia. This increased mass means that the aircraft will maintain its speed more effectively due to the laws of physics, specifically Newton's second law of motion. As a result, for a given configuration and power setting, a heavier aircraft typically descends at a greater speed compared to a lighter one.

This relationship is emphasized in flight dynamics, where the lift and drag characteristics of the aircraft remain relatively constant regardless of weight to some extent. However, the gravitational force acting on the heavier aircraft pulls it down with more force, which typically leads to a steeper descent rate when compared to an aircraft with less mass.

Therefore, a higher gross mass is directly linked to an increase in descent speed, which explains why this choice is correct. The dynamics of heavy objects in motion and the principles governing aerodynamics are crucial in determining the behavior of the aircraft during various flight phases, including descent.