Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

An aircraft wing is designed to produce lift resulting from?

1. Negative air pressure below the wing's surface and positive air pressure above the wing's surface.

2. Positive air pressure below the wing's surface and negative air pressure above the wing's surface.

3. A larger center of pressure above the wing's surface and a lower center of pressure below the wing's surface.

4. Even air pressure across both sides of the wing.

The correct answer is: Positive air pressure below the wing's surface and negative air pressure above the wing's surface.

The correct answer highlights the fundamental concept of how lift is generated by an aircraft wing. When an aircraft wing is in motion through the air, it is shaped in a way that creates two different air pressure areas: lower pressure above the wing and higher pressure below it. This difference in pressure generates lift. The airfoil shape of the wing, usually with a curved upper surface and a flatter lower surface, allows the air traveling over the top to move faster than the air traveling beneath. According to Bernoulli's principle, the faster-moving air above the wing leads to a decrease in pressure relative to the higher pressure beneath the wing, resulting in an upward lifting force. This explanation aligns closely with the notion of producing lift through the variation in air pressure across the wing's surfaces, affirming the correctness of the answer chosen. Understanding lift generation is crucial for pilots, as it influences aircraft performance and handling characteristics during flight.