Forces of Flight

Front

What are the four main forces of flight?

Back

Lift, Weight, Thrust, Drag.

Front

What is lift?

Back

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

Front

What is weight in the context of flight?

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.

Front

What is drag?

Back

Drag is the resistance force that opposes an aircraft's forward motion.

Front

How does an airplane generate lift?

Back

An airplane generates lift by having its wings angled to create a difference in air pressure above and below the wings.

Front

What happens when lift equals weight?

Back

When lift equals weight, the airplane remains at a constant altitude.

Front

What happens when thrust is greater than drag?

Back

When thrust is greater than drag, the airplane accelerates forward.

Front

What is the relationship between lift and weight for an airplane to ascend?

Back

For an airplane to ascend, lift must be greater than weight.

Front

What is the role of the wings in flight?

Back

Wings are designed to create lift by manipulating airflow.