What Are The Physics Behind Flying an Aircraft?

Aircraft have radically changed the way that we travel and interact with one another on a global scale, allowing individuals to traverse the world in a matter of hours. While we often take aircraft technology for granted due to how it has heavily permeated modern society, it is a field that has only been around for a short amount of time with the first powered flight being conducted in 1903. To help you better understand how modern flight is made possible, we will be discussing the physics behind aircraft in operation.

While one may think that the aircraft engine is the most important aspect of achieving flight, flight is nearly impossible without the presence of wings. Wings are a type of airfoil that is used to create lift, that of which is an upward force that allows the aircraft to overcome its own weight to stay in the air. As such, the aircraft engines are important for the aircraft to move forward, while it is the wing structures themselves that enable upward movement.

While the design of wings may vary based on the aircraft in question, all will typically feature a curved upper surface and a flatter lower surface, that of which forms the cross-sectional airfoil. A common misconception is that lift is created through the aerodynamic principle of Bernoulli’s law, which explains that fast-moving air has a lower pressure than slow-moving air. Because of this, the low pressure above the wing would result in lift. If this was the concrete explanation for lift, various aircraft like acrobatic planes should not be capable of conducting flight upside down.

Instead, the way that lift is created is actually due to how air is deflected and directed across the airfoil. With a curved structure, each wing will deflect air in such a way that the air pressure above and below the airfoil is altered. As air is a type of fluid, the way in which the airfoil cuts through the atmosphere is very similar to how one would move through water as a solid object diverting fluid flow. As an aircraft cuts through the air during powered flight, the curved upper surface of the wing will lower air pressure and deflect it upwards.

Atmospheric air’s natural tendency is to move across a surface in a straight line, and the curved formation of the wing will force it around and downward. As air is stretched out, molecules will begin occupying a greater volume of space, meaning that pressure drops. At the same time, the air moving below will face the opposite effect due to the orientation of the wing’s lower surface, causing air molecules to compress into a smaller space which results in an increase of air pressure. With a larger pressure differential between the upper and lower sections of the airfoil, a speed differential is produced for creating more lift.

With lift, the aircraft is able to maintain and adjust its positioning within the atmosphere, allowing pilots to direct the vehicle through the use of steering. In order for an aircraft to be steered, the pilot must induce a centripetal force that changes the speed or direction of travel. When an aircraft is not moving on the ground, it must utilize the act of leaning to move in a curve and change direction. This is known as banking, and it refers to when the plane is tilted so that one wing dips to a lower angle than the other. As lift is still acting against the wing while it is tilted, the aircraft will be forced to move in a circle. With the use of elevator, aileron, and rudder controls, pilots can better manage changes in direction to follow set flight paths. In order to optimally manage the navigation of aircraft, pilots must be familiar with the various controls and systems present within the cockpit.

While lift and flight controls are paramount for the dynamics of flight, there are still other various systems and assemblies that are crucial for operations. These include fuel tanks, landing gear, pressurized cabins, and avionics, all of which pilots must familiarize themselves with before taking flight. If you own or operate an aircraft and find yourself in need of various parts and components to keep your vehicle airworthy and reliable, look no further than Unlimited NSN.

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