Four Forces of Flight

Front

What are the four forces of flight?

Back

The four forces of flight are lift, weight (gravity), thrust, and drag.

Front

What is lift in the context of flight?

Back

Lift is the force that directly opposes the weight of an aircraft and holds the aircraft in the air.

Front

What factors affect lift?

Back

Lift is affected by the shape of the wings (airfoil), the angle of attack, airspeed, and air density.

Front

What is weight in aviation?

Back

Weight is the force exerted by gravity on the aircraft, pulling it downward.

Front

What is thrust?

Back

Thrust is the forward force produced by the aircraft's engines, propelling it through the air.

Front

What is drag?

Back

Drag is the resistance force that opposes the aircraft's motion through the air.

Front

How does the shape of an aircraft wing affect lift?

Back

The shape of an aircraft wing (airfoil) is designed to create a pressure difference above and below the wing, generating lift.

Front

What is the angle of attack?

Back

The angle of attack is the angle between the wing's chord line and the oncoming air.

Front

How does increasing airspeed affect lift?

Back

Increasing airspeed increases lift, as lift is proportional to the square of the velocity of the air over the wings.

Front

What role does air density play in lift?

Back

Higher air density increases lift because there are more air molecules available to create pressure differences.