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The top surface of an airplane wing is curved to create lift. Because of the curve, air has to travel farther across the top of the wing than across the bottom; this creates a low-pressure condition that pulls the airplane into it.

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Q: Why is the surface on the top of an airplane wing curved?
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The curve on top of a wing of an airplane is?

Its called an airfoil. Its what gives the plane lift during flight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An airfoil is the totality of the wing. There are various designs of airfoils. One such design was of a wedge shape, which is contrary to the accepted design of the curved upper surface. The basic airfoil includes the upper curved surface of the wing, the bottom flat or less curved surface of the wing, the cord thickness and total wing span. I had given a more thorough lay explanation of how lift is produced, but for some reason that explanation was removed. Go figure? My past background is as a flight instructor/mechanic/cropduster pilot.


Bernoulli's principle examples?

An airplane wing. The top is curved, so the air traveling over the top of the wing needs to travel faster than the air going along the bottom. As the velocity of air increases the pressure decreases.


How does airplane takeoff?

The aircraft gains speed. Its wing is curved on top and flat on bottom, so it gains lift. Then it soars into the sky with its nose pointing up.


What makes a jet airplane safe?

The top surface of a wing is curved, the bottom is more flat. When the wing cuts through the air, the air must travel along the top surface faster than the bottom surface, in order to maintain equal distribution. Nature likes equal distribution. Due to shape of the wing, the air is able to do this without creating a vacuum. But- The faster-travelling air above the wing has lower pressure, and therefore the air underneath the wing can push up, creating lift. P.S. I could be wrong, or have omitted crucial physics/aeronautics terms.


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.


What is lift on a airplane?

Lift is what " Lifts" an airplane off of the ground. Most commonly an airfoil wing is used to achieve lift. An airfoil is when the top of the wing is curved and the bottom is flat. This makes the pressure go fast over the top and slow underneath. This means more pressure under it at one time so that makes it go up! I hope that helped you!


What do peak roof and convertible top and airplane wings have in common when air moves faster across their top surfaces?

Peaked roofs, convertible tops, and airplane wings have in common when air moves faster across their top surfaces is that air is made to flow faster over the wing's top surface than under its lower surface


Why do different birds have different shaped wings?

The shape of the bird's wing is flat, so more air molecules may push it up, the shape is also like a glider.


How does an airplane get off the ground?

There is a concept of lift when aircraft is built. The wing of an airplane takes a shape commonly referred to as an airfoil, that is curved downward on the top, but is mostly flat on the bottom. When an airplane speeds down the run way, the air is "split" by the wind. Air that travels above the wing is fast (since it has a longer distance to travel due to the curve) and is low in pressure. Air that skims the bottom of the wing is relatively slower (since it has a shorter distance to travel, because it is flat) and has higher pressure. Since there is more pressure below the wing than there is on top, the airplane is lifted up.


How does the upward force lift the airplane?

Lift: is also known as the upwards force. It helps to keep an airplane, aircraft, hovercraft, bird, etc. in the air by pushing it upwards. The wings of a bird or airplane are huge factors in how great the force of lift is. This is because the top of the wing is curved and the bottom is flat. When the air is traveling on top of the wing it goes faster creating a low pressure. When the air passes under the wing, it goes slower creating a high pressure thus pushing the object upwards.


What is control surface on airplane wing called?

The ailerons are the control surface on the wings of an airplane. Ailerons control the bank (or roll) of the aircraft. Underneath the wing are flaps, which slow the airplane down and provide lift, typically used during landings and sometimes for short-field takeoffs. Some large aircraft also have slats, which are sort of like flaps for the front side of the wing. Many aircraft also have spoilers, or air brakes, on the top surface of the wing. On the tail are two other control surfaces, the rudder, which controls yaw, and the elevators, which control pitch.


Does a cylinder have a curved and flat surface?

Yes, a cylinder has both curved and flat surface. Considering a solid cylinder standing on its end, the circular base and the circular top are flat surfaces. The surface connecting the top and bottom is curved.