When air passes over an aeroplane wing, it creates lift. Why is this?
2007-03-19 04:05:24 · 5 answers · asked by tuthutop 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The air has further to travel over the wing than under because of the shape this spreads out the air on top creating less pressue on top and causing the wing to rise when traveling forward at speed.Basically the bottom is flat but the top curved to create more surface in the same width of wing.
2007-03-19 04:24:28 · answer #1 · answered by frankturk50 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It is called the Bernoulli Principle.
Most people think that it is the air hitting the underbelly of the wings that keeps the airplane airborne. That only explains 20% of the airplane's airlift. The other 80% is due to a sucking effect that generates on the upper side of the wing due to the wing's shape. Bernoulli, stated that air flowing around and object reaches the other side of the object at the same time. if the bottom of the wing is flat, but the top is rounded at the front to increase the front size, then tapering towards flat at the back (the shape of a wing), then the air going over the wing has to go faster than the air going under the wing to reach the end of the wing at the same time. The faster air over the top of the wing generates an area of low pressure, literally sucking the wing upwards, thus providing 80% of the airplane's lift.
2007-03-19 05:01:50 · answer #2 · answered by MSDC 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The flow of air increases the pressure under the wing and reduces the pressure over the wing. This pushes the wing upwards.
2007-03-19 04:09:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Due to the shape of the wing the pressure is greater below the wing than above it. This is what causes the lift.
2007-03-19 04:10:42 · answer #4 · answered by DimensionalStryder 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't know, MSDC sounds very convincing, but how do planes fly upside down with 80% of the lift pulling them down.
2007-03-19 06:16:49 · answer #5 · answered by bo nidle 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋