Physics of staying airborne – The Hindu

1 / 5 |
The faster the air flows over the curved upper surface of the wing, the lower the pressure there. This is called X’s principle: aeroplanes use it to generate lift and stay airborne. Name X.

2 / 5 |
For an aeroplane, the angle between the wing’s chord line and the oncoming airflow is called the angle of _____. It is used to control lift and to keep the plane from stalling. At its critical value, the plane’s lift coefficient is at its highest. Fill in the blank.

3 / 5 |
The propulsion systems onboard a conventional aeroplane accelerate air (or exhaust gases from the engines) backward, thus producing thrust in the forward direction. Name the quantity whose conservation allows this mechanism.

4 / 5 |
The movable parts of an aeroplane’s wings and tail that let pilots steer and stabilise the aircraft are called its _______ ________. They’re like the muscles of the plane and are used to change how air flows over different sections, creating forces that lift, push or drop the vehicle. Fill in the blanks.

5 / 5 |
The ________ _____ is the thin skin of air that hugs an aeroplane’s wings, fuselage, tail, etc. Even though it is typically only a few millimeters to centimeters thick, it has an outsized influence on flight characteristics. Fill in the blanks.