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A wing creates lift by imparting a downward momentum to the air flowing above and below it. The rate of change of momentum is equal to Force (Newton's 2nd law), and therefore a reaction force pushes the wing up, producing lift (Newton's 3rd law).
The imparting of this downward momentum ("downwash") to the air results from an air pressure differential above/below the wing. If you know the pressure above the wing and the pressure below the wing, and the wing area, you can calculate the lift force on the wing since Force = Pressure x Area. If you don't know the pressures, you can get a rough estimate if you know what the average air velocities are above and below the wing. A wing creating lift will have higher speed air flowing over the top of it than flowing below it. By employing Bernoulli's Principle, you can calculate a pressure difference corresponding to the difference in velocity.
An airfoil shape is effective in generating lift since it helps to keep the air flowing smoothly around the wing, making the wing more effective in diverting the air downwards. Air tends to flow more smoothly around curved shapes rather than abrupt sharp edges which is why the top of an aircraft wing always is curved. Even a perfectly flat wing can create lift (such as in a toy balsa wood glider). However a flat wing isn't practical for a full sized airplane since it's not quite as effective in producing lift as a curved airfoil. At larger scales air behaves less like a viscous medium and more like an inertial one, meaning it doesn't like to hug sharp turns over an object. So for a full scale flat wing the air wouldn't flow smoothly past the sharp leading edge, resulting in a loss of lift, a lot of drag and an abrupt stall.
Note that there is no requirement that the air molecules separating at the leading edge and flowing below the wing meet up with the same molecules that flow over the top. This is called the "equal transit time theory" and is a popular science myth that unfortunately has found it's way into flight manuals and even some undergraduate texts. However, aerodynamics engineers have known ever since they started doing wind tunnel testing that the air flowing over a lifting wing reaches the trailing edge sooner than the air below it. This is true even for a perfectly flat wing. This can be explained in terms of the circulation theory, which is an advanced concept.
What else can I help you with?
Why does the lift on an airplane wing increase as the speed of the airplane increases?
The lift on an airplane wing increases as the speed of the airplane increases due to the Bernoulli's principle. Faster airspeed over the wing creates lower pressure, and higher pressure underneath the wing generates lift. This relationship creates more lift force as airspeed increases.
What force pushes an airplane wing up?
The force that pushes an airplane wing up is called lift. Lift is generated by the difference in air pressure above and below the wing, created by the wing's shape and angle of attack. This force allows the airplane to overcome gravity and stay airborne.
How does the wing shape on an airplane affect its ability to hold weight?
The wing shape of an airplane, particularly its airfoil profile, affects its ability to generate lift. A curved or cambered wing shape helps generate more lift, allowing the airplane to carry more weight. Additionally, the wing design influences the distribution and efficiency of lift across the wingspan.
What is the upward force acting on the wing of an airplane in flight?
The upward force acting on the wing of an airplane is called lift. It is generated by the flow of air over the wing, due to the difference in air pressure between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing. This lift force is what enables the airplane to overcome gravity and stay in the air.
How is Bernoulli's principle applied in real life to explain the lift generated by an airplane wing?
Bernoulli's principle is applied in real life to explain the lift generated by an airplane wing through the concept that faster-moving air creates lower pressure, causing the wing to lift. This principle helps to understand how the shape of the wing and the speed of the air around it work together to generate lift and keep the airplane in the air.
Why does the lift on an airplane wing increase as the speed of the airplane increases?
The lift on an airplane wing increases as the speed of the airplane increases due to the Bernoulli's principle. Faster airspeed over the wing creates lower pressure, and higher pressure underneath the wing generates lift. This relationship creates more lift force as airspeed increases.
What force pushes an airplane wing up?
The force that pushes an airplane wing up is called lift. Lift is generated by the difference in air pressure above and below the wing, created by the wing's shape and angle of attack. This force allows the airplane to overcome gravity and stay airborne.
When moving into forward flight translational lift is produced by?
Air moving over the rotor disk, much like an airplane wing.
Does the shape of an airplane wing matter?
Yes because an airplane wing has to cut through wind and create loft and lift.
What does the increased pressure below an airplane's wing cause?
Lift.
How does the wing shape on an airplane affect its ability to hold weight?
The wing shape of an airplane, particularly its airfoil profile, affects its ability to generate lift. A curved or cambered wing shape helps generate more lift, allowing the airplane to carry more weight. Additionally, the wing design influences the distribution and efficiency of lift across the wingspan.
Is the upward force on a airplane wing is thrust?
Thrust is the forward motion of the airplane provided by the engines. Lift is the upward force on an airplanes wing.
What is the upward force acting on the wing of an airplane in flight?
The upward force acting on the wing of an airplane is called lift. It is generated by the flow of air over the wing, due to the difference in air pressure between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing. This lift force is what enables the airplane to overcome gravity and stay in the air.
How is Bernoulli's principle applied in real life to explain the lift generated by an airplane wing?
Bernoulli's principle is applied in real life to explain the lift generated by an airplane wing through the concept that faster-moving air creates lower pressure, causing the wing to lift. This principle helps to understand how the shape of the wing and the speed of the air around it work together to generate lift and keep the airplane in the air.
The upward force acting on the wing of an airplane in flight is called?
The upward force acting on the wing of an airplane in flight is called lift. It is generated by the flow of air over the wing due to differences in air pressure created by the wing's shape and angle of attack.
What happens when your Increasing an airplane's speed or wing size?
Greater lift
Does the shape of an airfoil cause the top of an airplane wing to travel faster or slower than the air underneath the wing?
Faster. This is how lift is produced over the surface of the wing because the pressure is decreased over the top surface Lift=Coefficient of lift x 0.5density of air x speed (squared) x surface area.
