Bernoulli's Principle


Air can be viewed as a fluid because it has flow. When fluid moves faster, the fluid exerts less pressure on objects around the flow. The shape of the airplane causes the wind to flow faster over the top of the wing and slower on the underside of the wing. This shape causes a higher pressure beneath the wing and lower pressures above it. The difference allows the pressure under the wing to exert more force, thus giving it lift.

Lift is dependent on the:

  • shape of the airfoil (airplane wing) and angle of attack (CL)
  • the surface area exposed to the airstream (A)
  • air speed (V)
  • air density (d)

The equation of lift is: L= CL*d*(V2/2)*A