Question

.How does the velocity of air moving over the top of the wing of an airplane in flight compare to the velocity of air moving under the wing. explain the answer using Bernoulli's principle.

Answer 1

Bernoulli's Principle deals with the pressure applied by moving fluids. The faster a fluid moves, the smaller the pressure it applies. In an airplane wing (called an air foil) you want higher pressure under the wing to cause lift. The pressure must overcome the weight of the plane and its contents to lift it. Thus, the air over the top of the wing must travel faster than the air going under the wing so that there is a pressure differential.

A large pressure differential, with higher pressure under the wing, will cause lift. The air must move slower under the wing. So, the wing has a larger surface above so the wind has to go faster to get from front to back. The under surface has a smaller surface (created by having it flatter on the bottom than the top) so the wind does not have to go as fast from from to back. The speed difference of the air particles causes this pressure differential, which is Bernoulli's Principle.