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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. However, 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 as effective in producing lift, and it stalls easily.
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, aerodynamicists 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?
What are the parts of an airfoil?
An airfoil typically consists of a leading edge, a trailing edge, an upper surface, and a lower surface. These parts work together to generate lift as air flows over the airfoil, allowing an aircraft to stay aloft.
How does a airfoil generate lift?
the wind goes over the wing and above it so the air on the bottom is going faster because it has less space to travel forcing the wing up
What is the difference how a helacopter creates lift and an airplane?
They both utilize airflow over an airfoil. The helicopter moves the airfoil (blade) by spinning them, as air passes around the blade it creates lift. An airplane uses thrust from the engines to push the airfoil (wings) forward through the air, the air then flowing over(lower pressure) and under them (higher pressure) produces lift.
How does the flow over an airfoil affect its lift and drag characteristics?
The flow over an airfoil affects its lift and drag characteristics by creating differences in air pressure above and below the airfoil. This pressure difference generates lift, which is the force that allows an aircraft to stay airborne. The flow also creates drag, which is the resistance that opposes the motion of the aircraft. The shape and angle of the airfoil, as well as the speed and density of the air, all play a role in determining the lift and drag forces acting on the airfoil.
What is an airfoil?
An airfoil is a shape that is designed to produce lift when it moves through the air. It is commonly used in the design of wings for aircraft and blades for propellers and turbines. The unique shape of the airfoil allows air to flow faster over the top surface, creating lower pressure and generating lift.
What are six factors that affect the amount of lift produced by an airfoil?
Airfoil shape and design Angle of attack Airfoil size (chord length) Air density Airspeed Surface roughness and cleanliness
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.
Why wings are shaped like airfoil?
Wings are airfoils. The purpose of the airfoil it to accelerate air over the top of the wing and create an area of low pressure, which produces lift.
How airfoil design works?
An air foil works with thrust, when you creat thrust the air foil creats a lift. The lift is created by the speed of the air being split in half, creating a "zero gravity effect" (which is the lift)
What are four things that lift depends on?
Lift depends on factors such as the shape of the object (e.g., airfoil shape), airspeed, angle of attack, and air density.
How does an aeroplane create lift?
In an aircraft, the powerplant provides thrust. And this thrust, combined with the lift provided by the wing's design, air has to move more quickly over the top of the wing (AIRFOIL) than the air underneath the wing. Faster moving air has less pressure than slower moving air, Bernelle's Principal, so suction on the upper skin of the airfoil when it moves through the air (by thrust), creates lift.
How does the design of an airfoil contribute to the generation of lift in an aircraft?
The design of an airfoil, which is the shape of the wing, contributes to the generation of lift in an aircraft by creating a pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing. This pressure difference causes the air above the wing to move faster than the air below, creating lift as a result of the Bernoulli principle.
