PHYSICAClass 11 Physics simulations · Mechanical Properties of Fluids
Lift on an aerofoil
Air flows faster over the curved top of a wing. Bernoulli’s principle gives the pressure difference.
What to notice
A small speed difference over a large wing area produces enough lift to hold up an aircraft.
Key relation
L = ½ρ(v_top² − v_bottom²) A
Try this
Halve the air density (high altitude). How much faster must the plane fly?
What you can change
- Airspeed under wing: 50 to 250 m/s
- Speed ratio top/bottom: 1 to 1.3
- Wing area: 10 to 120 m²
- Air density: 0.4 to 1.25 kg/m³
More in Mechanical Properties of Fluids
- Float or sink?
- Capillary rise and depression
- Flow through a narrowing pipe
- Pressure inside drops and bubbles
- Hydraulic lift (Pascal)
- Pressure at depth in a tank
- Viscous drag and terminal speed
- Water jet from a tank
- Venturimeter
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