2006-08-20 14:07:07 · 14 answers · asked by joselinda b 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
The Bernouilli principle states that when a fluid is accelerated, its pressure is lowered to compensate. The upper surface of a wing is curved (while the bottom is flatter) and as a result air has a bit longer to travel across the upper surface than the bottom. But because it has to essentially get there at the same time despite the longer travel, it thus has to pick a bit of speed while above the wing and slow down at the end to rejoin the air at the same speed). But faster fluid means less pressure. So, the air above the wing turns into some sort of virtual succion cup, sucking the wing up.
(Actually, the theory is a lot more complicated with potential flow, circulation, Navier-Stokes equations, etc. But Bernoulli is good enough for this simple explanation).
2006-08-20 15:28:58 · answer #1 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wings (or sometimes the body) of the aircraft are specially shaped to make air move faster over the top than the bottom. Faster air has a lower pressure. When that happens, there is a difference of pressure over top and bottom of the lifting surfaces. If the difference gets big enough, the weight of the airplane equals or is smaller than the force made by the pressure difference on the wings.
2006-08-20 21:51:31 · answer #2 · answered by Darcia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wings are also shaped so that air slides over the tops and pushes up from underneath. On a propellor plane, the prop spins into the air like a corkscrew. If you read a flight training manual you will realize there is almost no way planes can't fly.
2006-08-20 21:16:08 · answer #3 · answered by Stimpy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forward motion causing lift on the wings by differential pressure, the top of a wing is curved so causing the air to travel further than under the wing.
2006-08-20 21:17:38 · answer #4 · answered by tattie_herbert 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
air pressure. the wing has More surface area on top because of the curve so the air travels faster over it. this lowers the pressure compared to the air below causing lift
2006-08-20 21:14:30 · answer #5 · answered by m4d_mike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
air passes under the wing slower than the top of the wing causing LIFT. the faster the air plane travels the less the wing has to curve down for lift. the slower it travels like for landing it needs a lot of curve FLAPS to slow the air causing maximum LIFT
2006-08-20 21:22:03 · answer #6 · answered by geetarpicker04 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The propeller on an air plane spends at a high speed and the wings make it glide
2006-08-20 21:22:34 · answer #7 · answered by Cephas H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wing creates a low pressure area under causing it to lift
2006-08-24 17:36:49 · answer #8 · answered by rldbr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lift, the air is traveling from the leading edge to the trailing edge
2006-08-21 20:45:46 · answer #9 · answered by Zachary W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They use a combination of the Bernoulli Effect and Newtons third law of motion
2006-08-21 17:06:06 · answer #10 · answered by leckie1UK 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋