Aircraft wing cross section pressure difference

Question

The wing of an airplane has an average cross-sectional area of 11 m² and experiences a lift force of 124,613 N. What is the average difference in the air pressure between the top and bottom of the wing (in N/m²)?

Answer 1

The lift force on an airplane wing is generated due to the difference in air pressure on the top and bottom surfaces of the wing. According to Bernoulli's principle, the pressure of a fluid (in this case, air) decreases as its speed increases. This means that the air flowing over the curved top surface of the wing must have a lower pressure than the air flowing underneath the flatter bottom surface of the wing. The pressure difference creates an upward lift force on the wing.

To calculate the average difference in air pressure between the top and bottom of the wing, we can use the formula:

lift force = pressure difference x wing area

Rearranging this formula gives us:

pressure difference = lift force / wing area

Plugging in the values, we get:

pressure difference = 124,613 N / 11 m^2 = 11,328.45 N/m^2

Therefore, the average difference in air pressure between the top and bottom of the wing is 11,328.45 N/m^2.