Aerodynamic Lift, Part 1: The Science
-
Doug McLean [1]
-
[1] Seattle,WA
-
- Localización: The Physics Teacher, ISSN 0031-921X, Vol. 56, Nº. 8, 2018, págs. 516-520
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
-
Resumen
Every so often an article appears in the popular press pointing to the apparent confusion surrounding the topic of aerodynamic lift and alleging that even the “experts” don’t fully understand it.1 This makes attention-grabbing copy, but it overstates the case. Actually, the science of lift is not in dispute. It is well understood in terms of a quantitative mathematical theory that is based on established laws of physics, produces accurate predictions, and has been agreed on by the science and engineering communities since the early 20th century. Confusion arises only in connection with explaining lift in qualitative terms.
In this paper I start with a description of the basic physics represented by the mathematical theory, which leads to a discussion of why qualitative explanations of fluid flows are difficult in general. I then describe the key known features of lifting flows without trying to explain or justify them. Finally, I discuss two lifting-flow issues that have been treated in questionable fashion in other papers in the physics education literature: the applicability of Bernoulli’s principle and the vertical momentum imparted to the air by a lifting wing. All of this sets the stage for the companion paper, “Aerodynamic Lift, Part 2: A Comprehensive Physical Explanation.”
