The Four Forces of Aerodynamics

Four forces that allow airplanes to fly are lift, gravity, thrust and drag.

Gravity causes the airplane to stay on the ground. Lift overcomes gravity and makes the airplane fly.

Remember Newton’s Third Law of Motion? Write it here:

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The wings of an airplane obey this law as they move through the air. When the air flows over a wing, it bends down. The opposite reaction is a push upwards, which produces lift.

The air that travels above the wing must travel faster than the air that goes below the wing. The difference in the speed of the air acts like a fluid, producing lower pressure above the wing than below it. This pressure difference produces lift as well.

Can you name the principle behind this physics? ___________________________

The power produced by the engine produces thrust, which moves the plane forward. Thrust is countered by drag. Drag occurs when air flows against all of the surfaces of the airplane. The control surfaces such as the flaps, rudder, elevator, and ailerons produce thrust to slow or maneuver the airplane.

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