• Question: How does a plane takeoff and fly?

    Asked by danniella1588 to Colm, Eoin, Joseph, Lauren, Stephen on 13 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: colm bracken

      colm bracken answered on 13 Nov 2013:

      A planes wing has a special shape that causes air to move over the top surface faster than over the bottom surface. When air moves at different speed over two surface there ends up being different pressures on both sides. Since the pressure will end up being higher on the bottom surface of the wing, the plane will be pushed upwards. We call this lifting force ‘lift’!

    • Photo: Stephen Scully

      Stephen Scully answered on 13 Nov 2013:

      Air moving over the surface of a wing causes a force which acts to lift the plane. This force is caused by a difference in pressure between the top and bottom sides of the wings. This is by design of the shape of the wing.

      The faster you move the greater the difference and pressure and the greater the force to lift the plane. Planes need to get fast to lift off then they can fly. They need enough force to overcome gravity.

    • Photo: Eoin O Colgain

      Eoin O Colgain answered on 16 Nov 2013:

      One can experiment at home with similar types of effects. One is to run the tap and place a curved spoon in the stream of water. One will notice a pull on the spoon.

    • Photo: Joseph Roche

      Joseph Roche answered on 16 Nov 2013:

      I love this description:

      But this is more accurate (from NASA): http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/ames-how-do-planes-fly-text.html

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