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Lift is generated when a gas in motion is deflected by a solid object. It follows Newton's Third Law of motion - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore lift works in the opposite direction of the deflected gas.

On an airplane, lift is generated by all surfaces that are in contact with the flow of air. The top of the wing as well as the bottom of the wing generate most of the lift.


There are quite a few theories of how lift is generated but the truth lies in their combination. The area of low pressure on top of the wing does generate lift. The bottom of the wing reacting with the air flow does also generate lift. If the low pressure on top of the wing was the only reason for lift, inverted flight wouldn't be a possibility, where the longer area is facing the ground. If the bottom of the wing was the only reason for lift then flying wouldn't be possible with a negative angle of attack and engineers would be able to design the top of the wing any way they wish. There are also control surfaces on top of the wing that would be rendered useless as well.


There are wingless aircraft called "lifting body" where the entire fuselage of the aircraft generates the lift. It generates lift due to the fact that when the flow of air encounters an object it is deflected and lift is generated in the opposite direction, just like Newton's Third Law of motion indicates.

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Related Questions

What will the shape of the airfoil effect?

The shape of an airfoil significantly influences its aerodynamic properties, including lift and drag. A cambered airfoil, with a curved upper surface and flatter lower surface, generates more lift at lower speeds compared to a symmetrical airfoil. Additionally, the angle of attack affects how effectively an airfoil can manipulate airflow, altering lift characteristics. Overall, the design and contour of the airfoil are crucial for optimizing performance in various flying conditions.


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 a frisbee has a round shape?

The shape of a Frisbee is a disc, with an airfoil cross-section. As with aeroplanes, this airfoil shape generates lift as it moves through the air.


How does an air foil generate lift?

An airfoil generates lift primarily through its shape and angle of attack. As air flows over the curved upper surface of the airfoil, it accelerates, resulting in lower pressure above the wing compared to the higher pressure beneath it. This pressure difference creates an upward force known as lift. Additionally, the angle of attack, or the tilt of the airfoil relative to the oncoming airflow, further enhances lift up to a certain point before causing stall.


Which part of the wing produces more lift the upper part or the lower part?

Tough question to answer as asked. In normal airfoils, the top of the airfoil is thicker and curved and it is this thicker, curved section that causes the air to speed up as it flows over it. This increase in airspeed over the top of the airfoil results in a lowering of the pressure and it is that pressure differential between the top and the bottom of the airfoil that is known as lift. However, while the shape of the top of the wing is what generates lift, the force itself is applied to the lower part of the wing, hence the airfoil rises. I guess the best answer would be to say it is produced by the upper part of the airfoil and is applied to the lower part of the airfoil. Look up Bernoulli for a more detailed discussion.


How is an airfoil shaped?

Each aircraft has a different shaped airfoil. The purpose of the airfoil shape is to reduce drag over a range of speeds which the aircraft wing operates at while providing the least possible drag at the cruising speed (regular flight speed) in order to ensure good performance.


What shape is most conducive to optimizing lift?

airfoil


What is subsonic airfoil?

which airfoil must produce the lift with less than one mach number . that is called sub sonic airfoil...... Another answer would be : an airfoil designed to perform below the speed of sound.


How does airfoil generates?

The air shear going under the wing when flaps are down pushes the plane up off the ground. The reason why planes have wings up is to create low drag and high lift.


How do airfoil effect airplane?

Airfoils are crucial for generating lift in airplanes. The shape of the airfoil creates a difference in air pressure between the upper and lower surfaces as the aircraft moves through the air, with faster airflow over the top leading to lower pressure and higher pressure underneath. This pressure difference generates lift, allowing the airplane to ascend and maintain flight. Additionally, the design of the airfoil affects drag and overall aerodynamic efficiency, influencing fuel consumption and performance.


When pictorially representing the lift force on an airfoil it is shown as acting at right angles to the?

The lift force on an airfoil is typically represented as acting perpendicular to the relative airflow direction. This is because lift is generated by the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the airfoil, causing a force perpendicular to the airflow.


What is the purpose of an airfoil?

An airfoil is a 2-dimensional shape that defines when built and inserted in a moving fluid will create a "Lift". The airfoil or wing can be used to turn ships or make an airplane fly.