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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. The air doesn't flow smoothly past the sharp leading edge, resulting in 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.
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Is the wing being pushed upward or downward?
The wing generates lift, which propels the aircraft upward due to differences in air pressure on the upper and lower surfaces of the wing. So, the wing is being pushed upward.
What is the upward force due to a pressure difference between the top and bottom of a wing?
The upward force due to a pressure difference is called lift. It is generated when the air pressure below the wing is higher than the pressure above the wing, creating a pressure difference that causes the wing to be pushed upward.
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.
Which is the upward force acting on the wing of a plane in flight?
The upward force acting on the wing of a plane in flight is called lift. It is generated by the air flowing over and under the wing due to the shape of the wing and the angle of attack. Lift is essential for keeping the plane aloft and counteracting the force of gravity.
What term describes the upward push on the wings of a airplane that causes unequal pressure?
The term that describes the upward force on the wings of an airplane that causes unequal pressure is lift. This lift is generated by the flow of air over the wings of the airplane, creating a pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing, resulting in the upward force.
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.
Is the wing being pushed upward or downward?
The wing generates lift, which propels the aircraft upward due to differences in air pressure on the upper and lower surfaces of the wing. So, the wing is being pushed upward.
What is the upward force due to a pressure difference between the top and bottom of a wing?
The upward force due to a pressure difference is called lift. It is generated when the air pressure below the wing is higher than the pressure above the wing, creating a pressure difference that causes the wing to be pushed upward.
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.
Upward force on a bird's wing?
It is called Lift. The difference in pressure above and below the wigs as a bird moves through the air produces an upward force that causes the bird to rise.
Which is the upward force acting on the wing of a plane in flight?
The upward force acting on the wing of a plane in flight is called lift. It is generated by the air flowing over and under the wing due to the shape of the wing and the angle of attack. Lift is essential for keeping the plane aloft and counteracting the force of gravity.
What term describes the upward push on the wings of a airplane that causes unequal pressure?
The term that describes the upward force on the wings of an airplane that causes unequal pressure is lift. This lift is generated by the flow of air over the wings of the airplane, creating a pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing, resulting in the upward force.
What doesnt affect the amount of lift on an airplanes wing?
The best way to answer this question would be to say what does effect the lift of a wing. Pretty much the only things that effect the lift of a wing are the density of the air over the wing, the surface area of the wing, the speed of air over the wing and the angle of attack. Everything else has no effect on the amount of lift on a wing.
Why does Bernoulli's principle allow objects to fly?
Bernoulli's principle states that as the speed of a fluid increases, its pressure decreases. This principle helps explain how airplanes can generate lift: as air flows faster over the top of an airplane wing, its pressure decreases, creating a pressure difference that lifts the wing upward.
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.
Can the shape of a wing help obtain lift?
Yes. Wing shape and speed are the two main factors in obtaining lift. The typical wing design has a mostly flat bottom side and a more curved top side. The leading edge of the wing bulges upward on top so that air crossing the wing is pushed upward. The bulge then thins out, sloping downward toward the wing's rear. The result of this difference in shape between the top and bottom of the wing is that there is less air pressure above the wing than below. The greater pessure under the wing pushes upward, creating lift.
Which is the upward force acting on the wing of an airplane in flight?
The upward force acting on the wing of an airplane in flight is called lift. It is generated due to the difference in air pressure between the top and bottom surfaces of the wing caused by the shape of the wing and its angle of attack. This lift force allows the airplane to overcome gravity and stay aloft.
