The Physics of Flight: How Do Planes Stay in the Air?
Human beings have been captivated by the idea of flight since ancient times, with modern airplanes representing a far cry from the efforts of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk in 1903. As anyone who has ever taken an airplane journey knows, planes travel surprisingly far in the sky, even though the science involved in how they remain in the air seems counterintuitive. To understand more about the physics of flight and how planes stay up in the sky, it helps to understand the four main forces that act on an airplane and how the design of the aircraft allows it to stay afloat.
Lift
The first force that acts on an airplane when it is in the sky is lift, which works to counteract the force of gravity, allowing the aircraft to “fly” or remain in the air. In order for a plane to generate lift, it must have a certain amount of forward motion through the air. This motion causes air to flow around the wings of the aircraft, creating an area of low pressure that draws the aircraft upwards. The force of lift on an airplane is generated by its wings, which are designed with curved surfaces that allow air to move faster over the top than along the bottom, reducing the air pressure and thus creating lift.
Drag
The next force that affects an airplane is drag or aerodynamic friction, which works to slow down the aircraft by creating friction as it passes through the air. Drag is generated by surface imperfections and other features of the aircraft, including the wings, fuselage and tail, that cause air to resist as it moves over the aircraft. As a result, drag works against the motion of the aircraft by creating a force that must be overcome, reducing the forward motion of the plane.
Weight
Thirdly, an airplane’s weight is also a major factor in its flight. Weight works to pull an aircraft down towards the ground due to the force of gravity, as the mass of the aircraft acts against the force of lift. An aircraft’s weight is determined by the sum of its parts, including the engine, fuel and other components of the aircraft. Additionally, the weight of the passengers and any cargo must also be taken into account when determining the total weight of the aircraft.
Thrust
Finally, thrust is another force that acts on an aircraft in flight. Whereas drag works to slow down the aircraft, thrust counteracts this force, pushing the aircraft in the forward direction and helping it achieve and maintain a high speed. In order for a plane to generate thrust, it needs an engine that produces thrust through the exhaust of gases at high speeds, resulting in an opposing force that moves the aircraft forward.
Path of Flight
By understanding the four forces that act on an airplane in the sky, we can look at how aircraft are designed to take advantage of these forces in order to fly effectively. In order to stay in the air, an aircraft must have a method of generating lift and also a way to counteract drag and decrease the forces that pull it down. Additionally, the aircraft must be designed to generate sufficient thrust in order to maintain forward motion.
Airfoils
The design of an aircraft’s wings is essential for it to generate lift, thus allowing it to stay in the sky. The wings of an aircraft are referred to as airfoils, and they are specially designed with curved surfaces that create areas of low pressure. As the aircraft moves forward, airflows around the wings and is drawn upwards over the curved surface, creating an area of low pressure that lifts the aircraft into the air. Additionally, the wings can also be angled in order to give the aircraft lift in different directions, allowing for more efficient flight.
Engines
Planes must also be equipped with an engine that can generate thrust in order to move the aircraft forward and counteract the force of drag. The type of engine used depends on the size and power of the aircraft, but most engines use a combination of fuels and compressed air to produce the required thrust. Engines are usually positioned on the wing or at the rear of the aircraft, allowing the thrust to be directed in the forward direction.
Control Surfaces
Another important component of an aircraft’s design is its control surfaces, which allow the plane to change its direction and speed without changing its speed. Control surfaces such as the ailerons, rudder and elevator are used to manipulate the lift and drag forces on the aircraft, allowing it to make turns, adjust its altitude and change its speed. These control surfaces are essential for an aircraft to control its flight path and maneuver in the sky in order to reach its destination.
The physics of flight are incredibly complicated, but with a basic understanding of the four forces that act on an aircraft and how aircraft are designed to take advantage of these forces, it is easy to see how planes can stay in the air for long distances. By understanding the lift generated by airfoils, the drag generated by friction, the weight of the aircraft, and the thrust produced by the engine, it becomes easier to understand why airplanes can fly so far and remain in the air for so long.
