2006-10-03 08:55:31 · 11 answers · asked by sandra j 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
To explain this you first need to understand the theory behind the creation of 'lift' by an aircraft wing. Lift is created by a difference in pressure above the wing compared to below. The pressure above the wing is lower than below (created by the Benoulli Theory) thus lifting the wing, causing the plane to leave the ground when the force of lift is greater than the weight of the aircraft.
As the pressure below the wing is higher than above the air is drawn around the outside of the tip of the wing towards the top of the wing. This creates a circular motion of the air that continues behind the aircraft, known as wake turbulence. This can be very dangerous especially for small aircraft behind larger aircraft and separation between landing aircraft is required
2006-10-03 09:04:56 · answer #1 · answered by purmusuk 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The majority of wake turbulence behind a jet airliner (or any heavy aircraft for that matter) is the tip vortex at the end of each wing. The action of higher pressure underneath the wing interacting with lower pressure above the wing at the end of each wing causes a vortex. The heavier the airplane the more powerful the turbulence in the form of "horizontal" tornadoes.
2006-10-03 16:01:02 · answer #2 · answered by Albannach 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Good question, I have often wondered this myself. I have assumed it was the plane punching a hole in the air and then the air rushing in to fill the gap behind the plane. Anyway if you are lucky enough to live below a flight path to a large airport, go out after anything from a 757 size plane upwards has just passed overhead. Stand quietly and as the engine roar fades you will hear a rumbling noise like thunder. This is the sound of the air turbulence behind the plane that has just flown overhead.
2006-10-03 16:54:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
albannach & purmusuk are right.
Additionally wake turbulence is the worst when the aircraft is heavy in a clean configuration, and max power, which
is generally at take off.
It is also present during cruise and landing.
All aircraft produce it, and helicopters can create wake tubulence that is just as dangerous to small aircraft.
2006-10-03 16:26:35 · answer #4 · answered by dyke_in_heat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simplest terms. The factors are weight/size/speed/proximity to the ground.
A plane is almost exactly like a boat cutting through the water. The wake it leaves in the air causes problems for other aircraft passing through or following in this wake. It is worse for small planes following large ones. That is why large planes announce themselves as "Heavy".
check out Wiki's page on this. A great picture of a NASA test plane.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_turbulence
2006-10-03 16:15:56 · answer #5 · answered by Drewpie 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
To say it another simple way, when an airfoil creates lift turbulence is a by-product.
2006-10-03 18:47:25 · answer #6 · answered by RANDLE W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
High altitude weather patterns.
Wind.
Hot air rising, cold air decending.
Air wake left from jets in front of you. Especially bad if you're following a large aircraft such as a 747.
2006-10-03 15:59:44 · answer #7 · answered by mb3698 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋
air displacement from aircraft flying in front of another aircraft.
2006-10-05 08:21:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The heating and cooling of the Earth's atmosphere.
2006-10-03 16:03:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 6⤋
the uneven heating of the earth from the sun creates spots of updrafts, downdrafts, etc.(a.k.a. turbulence)
2006-10-03 15:58:08 · answer #10 · answered by Thomas S 2 · 0⤊ 7⤋