When it comes to Airplanes, how is something SO HEAVY able to float in mid-air?

Answer 1

They do not float, they are pushed upwards by a force called "lift", because of their wings, much like an eagle when it glides in the sky. There is a fun tutorial here: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/F_How_Do_Planes_Fly_Slideshow.html

Answer 2

The Basic Forces of Thrust, Drag, and Lift

There are three basic forces to be considered in aerodynamics: thrust, which moves an airplane forward; drag, which holds it back; and lift, which keeps it airborne. Lift is generally explained by three theories: Bernoulli's principle, the Coanda effect, and Newton's third law of motion. Bernoulli's principle states that the pressure of a moving gas decreases as its velocity increases. When air flows over a wing having a curved upper surface and a flat lower surface, the flow is faster across the curved surface than across the plane one; thus a greater pressure is exerted in the upward direction. This principle, however, does not fully explain flight; for example, it does not explain how an airplane can fly upside down. Scientists have begun suggesting that the Coanda effect is at least partially responsible for how planes fly. Regardless of the shape of a plane's wing, the Coanda effect, in which moving air is attracted to and flows along the surface of the wing, and the tilt of the wing, called the angle of attack, cause the air to flow downward as it leaves the wing. The greater the angle of attack, the greater the downward flow. In obedience to Newton's third law of motion, which requires an equal and opposite reaction, the airplane is deflected upward. At the same time, a force that retards the forward motion of the aircraft is developed by diverting air in this way and is known as drag due to lift. Another kind of drag is caused by the slowing of air very near to the aircraft's surface; this can be reduced by making the surface area of the craft as small as possible. At low speeds (below Mach .7) the ratio between lift and drag decreases with gains in speed; accordingly, aerodynamic development for many years stressed increases in thrust over real reductions in drag.

Answer 3

Because the propulsion produces a force heavier that the airplane itself.

What is propulsion? The word is derived from two Latin words: pro meaning before or forwards and pellere meaning to drive. Propulsion means to push forward or drive an object forward.

A propulsion system is a machine that produces thrust to push an object forward. On airplanes, thrust is usually generated through some application of Newton's third law of action and reaction. A gas, or working fluid, is accelerated by the engine, and the reaction to this acceleration produces a force on the engine.

Answer 4

The fuel-driven propulsion system (jet-engine, propellor driven wings) creates an upthrust force which counters the downward-pulling effect of Earth's gravitational force.

The propulsion system actually pushes the Airplane upwards at an angle (like a shooting arrow) but the weight of the aircraft itself pulls the Airplane down to the resultant 'horizontal' position while the remaining force and navigational system (controlling wing and tail fins, etc) continue to propel the plane towards its intended destination.

Answer 5

The plane is specially built aerodynamically to be able to stay ing the air. They use special technology, such as the wing flaps on the wings of the plane to help it push through the air. There are also propelled jets that take the air in one way and push it out the other end to keep moving forward.

Answer 6

Airplane do not float, they dynamically use a pressure difference between the upper surface and the lower surface of the wing, said pressure difference being caused by the shape of the wing, and maintained by forward motion.
Bigger (and thus heavier) planes use either bigger wings or fly faster, or a combination of those.

Answer 7

It's not that it's floating in mid-air...

the wings are having so much air pushed under them that it pushes the airplane upwards.

Answer 8

Airplanes don't float in mid-air, they are being propelled through the air.

Answer 9

airplanes do not float they are propelled by force.
the engines force the plane to go.
the rudders make the plane go in direction the pilot wants to go.
up,down or turn also the amount of thrust the engine is given or taken away by the pilot controls the plane.

Answer 10

here is the short version - if two air molecules are going above a wing and below a wing they are going to want to meet up again after the wing so the one on top goes faster because the wing is curved on top and it has longer to go - since it is going faster there is less air pressure - bottom one is going slower so there is more pressure - wing lifts up like it is pushed up by air pressure