How Airplanes Work

How Airplanes Work

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• How
• Airplanes
• Work

[Qwertyyy30]

This is an excellent way to help me with my homework! 5/5

[celticwiz10]

So I hope this was helpful. For the record I have a degree in Aeronautical Engineering so I have sufficient education and experience to back up this explanation. I welcome all challengers and questions. Thanks for sticking around to read it all!

[Soopahkoopah101]

That's not how you say "Magic."

[oktal3700]

@celticwiz10 Thankyou very much for the perfect answer. 10/10

[celticwiz10]

@oktal3700 There are three major ways airplanes alter the amount of lift generated by the wings. First the airspeed is directly related to lift. More speed = more lift. Second pitch angle. For a well designed wing the lift increases as the aircraft's nose pitches upwards. Third most wings have special high-lift devices built in. Trailing edge flaps and leading edge slats can temporarily change the shape of the wing to increase lift and stowed during cruise to decrease drag.

[celticwiz10]

@Woop11Dang Here is one example where a ball does create lift, a curve ball. The curve ball is able to change direction because the pressure differences across the diameter of the ball, causing it to change direction. The ball's rotation causes the pressure imbalance in this scenario. This too has been studied and proven with simple solutions. Check out rotating cylinders in 2D flow. One attempted application is to power boats. See Rotor or Flettner ship. It seems pretty inefficient to me though

[celticwiz10]

@Woop11Dang Generally balls do not create lift because of their unique symmetry. The curvature on one side is no "sharper" than any other side opposite, but the pressure will drop at the points where the flow "sees" the most curvature. Since the pressure drops equally on opposite sides of the ball the net aero force will be zero because they cancel each other out.

[celticwiz10]

@Woop11Dang Not sure what you mean in your first question. Net force depends on a lot of conditions. For example, it is zero for an aircraft in steady level flight. The pressure imblance is caused by the wing's shape. The actual distribution of pressure on the airfoil can be quite complicated but the total/sum of forces is hopefully upwards to create lift.

[oktal3700]

@celticwiz10 Thanks. How do airplanes alter the amount of lift generated by the wings, in order to climb or descend?

[Die1101]

"thrust is greater than the drag and drives the aircraft forwards"... actually, thrust is greater only when the aircraft is accelerating. It is equal when it is travelling at a constant speed, and drag is greater when it is decelerating. Although gravity plays a role too, if the aircraft is climbing or diving.

[Woop11Dang]

@celticwiz10 first of all what is the net force, second wat creates a pressure imbalance and third by that explination does that mean a ball creates lift, because it also is curved.

[Woop11Dang]

@celticwiz10 you forgot the tail plane, otherwise a plane with just wings is a tumbling mess of metal with no stability for flying