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Airfoils

Newton's Third Law​

  • For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
  • In an airplane, the propeller moves and pushes back the air
  • Consequently, the air pushes the propeller and the airplane forward

Bernoulli's Law​

Pressure cylinder

  • As the pipe constricts, the pressure and the velocity must increase
  • An increase in velocity means a decrease in pressure / a decrease in velocity means a increase in pressure

Airfoil

  • The same principle applies to an airfoil
    • Some air is directed above the wing, some is directed below it
    • An increase in velocity decreases the pressure above the wing, which causes a force vertically on the wing