The 4 Forces of Flight
By: Ashley Whelan
Lift
Lift is the force that opposes the gravity of an airplane and holds the airplane in the air. Lift is generated by every part of the airplane, but most of the lift on a normal airliner is generated by the wings. Lift is a mechanical aerodynamic force produced by the motion of the airplane through the air.
gravity
- Weight is the force of gravity. It acts in a downward direction toward the center of the Earth.The force of gravity exerted on one object by another is directly proportional to the product of those objects' masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Drag
Drag is the force that acts opposite to the direction of motion.Drag is caused by friction and differences in the air pressure.
Thrust
- Thrust is the force that propels a flying machine in the direction of motion. Engines produce thrust.