What is the center of pressure?

The center of pressure is defined as the point along the chord line of an airfoil where the total aerodynamic lift force is considered to act. This is important in understanding how lift is generated and how it varies with changes in angle of attack.

In helicopter aerodynamics, the center of pressure plays a significant role in stability and control. As the angle of attack changes during flight, the center of pressure can move along the chord line, affecting the lift distribution and influencing the overall performance of the rotor blades. By analyzing where the lift forces are acting, pilots can better understand how to manage the helicopter's response to control inputs.

The other options, while related to rotor dynamics and performance, do not accurately define the center of pressure. The point where lift is created on rotor blades is more specific to the lift distribution across the blade rather than a singular point. The center balance point refers to the helicopter's center of gravity, which affects overall stability but is not the same as the center of pressure. The location where blade stall begins is related to the performance characteristics of the blades under high angles of attack but is not a description of where the lift force acts.