Why Planes Fly: The Magic of Lift
Learn how the shape of a wing creates upward force.
Lift is the secret ingredient that keeps massive airplanes in the air. It happens because of how wings are shaped, known as an airfoil. The top of the wing is curved, while the bottom is flatter. As the airplane moves forward, the air splits at the front of the wing. Because of the curve, the air traveling over the top has to move faster than the air underneath. According to Bernoulli’s Principle, faster-moving air creates lower pressure. This pressure difference means the air underneath pushes the wing up, fighting against the force of gravity.
Try this at home
Hold a strip of paper just below your bottom lip and blow air across the top of it. You will see the paper rise upward! This demonstrates how faster airflow over a curved surface creates lower pressure, resulting in lift.