Factors that Affect Lift (original) (raw)
All that is necessary to create lift is to turn a flow of air. An aerodynamic, curved airfoil will turn a flow. But so will a simple flat plate, if it is inclined to the flow. Thefuselageof an airplane will also generate lift if it is inclined to the flow. For that matter, an automobile body also turns the flow through which it moves, generating a lift force. Lift is a big problem for NASCAR racing machines and race cars now includespoilerson the roof to kill lift in a spin. Any physical bodymoving through a fluid can create lift if it produces a net turning of the flow.
There are many factors that affect the turning of the flow, which creates lift. We can group these factors into(a) those associated with the object, (b) those associated with the motion of the object through the air, and (c) those associated with the air itself:
- Object: At the top of the figure, aircraftwing geometry has a large effect on the amount of lift generated. The airfoil shape and wing size will both affect the amount of lift. The ratio of the wing span to the wing area alsoaffects the amount of lift generated by a wing.
- Motion: To generate lift, we have to move the object through the air. The lift then depends on thevelocity of the air and how the object isinclined to the flow.
- Air: Lift depends on the mass of the flow. The lift also depends in a complex way on two otherproperties of the air: its viscosity and its compressibility.
We can gather all of this information on the factors that affect lift into a single mathematical equation called the Lift Equation. With the lift equation we can predict how much lift force will be generated by a given body moving at a given speed.
You can investigate the various factors that affect lift by using the FoilSim II Java Applet. Have fun! You can use the browser "Back" button to return to this page. If your want your own copy of FoilSim to play with, you can downloadit at no charge.
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