What is created when the airflow speed is higher over the upper side of a wing?

Enhance your knowledge for the CAP Mitchell Aerospace Exam with our detailed study guide. Our quiz offers flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations. Prepare effectively for success.

When the airflow speed is higher over the upper side of a wing, it leads to increased lift. This phenomenon can be explained using Bernoulli's principle, which states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure. As air flows over the wing, the shape and angle of the wing create a difference in airflow speed between the upper and lower surfaces.

The air traveling over the upper surface moves faster than the air below the wing. This speed difference results in lower pressure on the top side of the wing compared to the bottom side, ultimately generating lift. This lift is what allows an aircraft to rise off the ground and maintain flight.

In contrast, increased temperature, decreased weight, and increased turbulence do not directly relate to the airflow speed over a wing in the context of generating lift. These factors may have roles in other aerodynamic principles but are not the key reasons for lift generation in the way that airflow speed is.

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