Bernoulli's Principle Applied to Lift


bernoulli_image
Photo taken from Flight Science.
         Bernoulli's Principle of Fluid Dynamics has been used to explain lift in many forms of textbooks and media.  Many scientists have called it an oversimplified explanation, but Bernoulli's Principle does prove that lift can be created. 
         The wing is now taken into consideration.  To make sense of Bernoulli's Principle, begin by treating the air around a wing as a fluid. Bernoulli's Principle states that when the velocity of a fluid flow increases, the pressure lowers.  By having a higher surface area on the top of a wing, the air must move faster over the top of the wing to match the air flow on the bottom of the wing.  By having higher speed of airflow on the top side of the wing, the pressure on top is less than the bottom, creating a lifting force. The photo explains the Bernoulli concept.  The slower moving air exerts more pressure.

See the Newtonian Principle link below to see how this principle also accounts for lift.


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