Basics of Aerodynamics

Introduction

• Understanding what makes an airplane fly.
• Key concepts and terms in aerodynamics.

Bernoulli's Principle

• Daniel Bernoulli, Swiss mathematician, expanded on Newton’s ideas.
• Published "Hydrodynamica" in 1738, detailing airflow pressure differential.
• Principle: As fluid velocity increases, pressure decreases.
• Diagram explanation: As air travels through a tighter passage, velocity increases and pressure decreases.

Key Force: Relative Wind

• Defined as the airflow parallel and opposite to the airplane's flight path.
• Airfoil: Surface providing aerodynamic force when interacting with air.
• Important to note: Airflow over the wing has higher velocity than underneath.

Camber and Chord Line

• Camber: Curve of the airfoil's surfaces.
• Chord Line: Imaginary line through the airfoil, important for defining "Angle of Attack."
• Angle of Attack: Angle between Chord Line and airflow direction; increasing angle increases lift.
• Lift acts perpendicular to relative wind regardless of angle of attack.

Lift and Stall

• According to Bernoulli's Theorem: Increased airspeed over an airfoil decreases pressure, contributing to lift.
• Stall: Occurs when angle of attack exceeds its maximum, decreasing lift due to airflow separation.
• Airflow separates at the "Trailing Edge," leading to a stall.

Four Forces of Flight

• Lift: Created by airflow over and under the wing.
• Weight: Force due to gravity.
• Thrust: Propels the airplane forward.
• Drag: Limits aircraft speed.
• Equilibrium: When lift equals weight, the airplane is in equilibrium.
• Resultant of equal opposing forces is zero.

Conclusion

• Understanding lift is crucial for aerodynamics.
• Thank you for watching!