Lift generation.
To understand lift, let's begin with an interesting analogy: consider a boy flying a kite. In a sense,
this boy could be seen as a pilot! Although this comparison might seem odd at first, it illustrates
the principles of lift.
A kite is essentially an inclined plane that stays in the air because of the wind flowing against it,
keeping it aloft through the tension of a string.
Now, if we replace that string with an airplane's engine and propeller, which move the wings
forward against the airflow, the kite analogy starts to make sense.
How lift is generated.
The wings of an airplane are designed to create an upward force when they move through the
air. This force, known as lift, supports the airplane's weight and keeps it airborne.
The shape of the wings plays a critical role in generating lift. Wings are designed as airfoils
specifically to interact with the air and generate lift.
The shape of an airfoil.
An airfoil typically has a curved or cambered shape, with the upper surface having more
curvature than the lower.
This cambered design helps produce the necessary lift. The curve of the airfoil affects how air
flows over and under the wing, altering the air's velocity and pressure, which in turn creates lift.
Newton’s laws.
Lift can be explained by Newton’s laws of motion, particularly the third law: For every action,
there is an equal and opposite reaction.
When air flows over a wing, it is directed downward, a phenomenon known as
downwash, and the wing experiences an upward force in response. The reaction
is the lift that counters the airplane's weight.
As air flows over the top of the wing, it is deflected downward by the curvature of
the airfoil.
Simultaneously, the air beneath the wing is pushed downward by the flat or less
curved lower surface.
This deflection of air results in the wing experiencing an upward force, which we call lift. The
more air that is deflected downward, the greater the lift produced.
Bernoulli’s principle.
Lift is also influenced by Bernoulli’s principle, which states that as the speed of air) increases, its
pressure decreases.
As air moves over the curved upper surface of the wing, it accelerates, causing a
reduction in pressure.
This pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing
creates lift.
The faster airflow over the wing’s upper surface leads to lower pressure, while the slower airflow
under the wing results in higher pressure, pushing the wing upward.
Relative airflow.
Relative airflow refers to the direction of the airflow relative to the wing’s motion. If a wing is
moving forward, the relative airflow moves in the opposite direction, backward.
The relative airflow and the flight path are always parallel but travel in opposite directions. In
flight, the airplane's motion through the air creates this relative airflow, which is essential for
generating lift.
Angle of attack and center of pressure.
The angle of attack is the angle between the airfoil and the relative airflow. As this angle
increases, so does the amount of lift up to a point called the critical angle of attack.
If the angle becomes too steep, however, the airflow can no longer move
smoothly over the wing, leading to a loss of lift, or stall.
The center of pressure is the point where the total force due to air pressure acts on the airfoil.
As the angle of attack changes, the center of pressure moves.
Before a stall, the center of pressure moves forward, but beyond the stall point, it
moves backward, affecting the airplane’s stability.
