The Physics of Lift

Birds Are Basically Small Airplanes

    When trying to understand the physics at work during a bird's flight, it can be helpful to equate the bird's wing with an airplane wing.

    An airplane flies by using jet engines to generate initial propulsion then, using its specially shaped wings, it creates a difference in air pressure above and below it. This pressure difference causes the airplane to lift into the air towards the lower pressure area and stay suspended as long as the engines are still running.

    A bird works in a very similar way. The fundamental rules of generating lift in the airplane scenario apply to the bird as well, but the key difference lies in the way that the bird creates the pressure difference. Instead of using jet engines, birds use the flapping motion of their wings to lift them and keep them suspended in the air.