What are internal baffles in a fuel tank?

• A. Physical walls that have small openings to stop the fuel surging
• B. Insulation layers to reduce heat transfer
• C. Valves that regulate fuel flow
• D. Sensors to monitor fuel level

Answer: (A)

Internal baffles are physical walls inside a fuel tank that dampen fuel motion and prevent surge during flight. They divide the tank into smaller pockets while using small openings or perforations to allow limited fuel flow, so the fuel can move without creating large slosh waves. This helps keep the fuel pickup submerged and stabilizes the aircraft’s center of gravity by reducing abrupt mass shifts. They’re not insulation, valves, or sensors—their purpose is to control internal fuel movement, not heat transfer, flow regulation, or monitoring.