The curved shape of an airplane wing causes air to move faster over the top surface. This leads to:
Correct answer: B. Lower pressure on the top
- A. Greater pressure on the top
- B. Lower pressure on the top
- C. Equal pressure on both sides
- D. Zero pressure above the wing
Explanation
Faster flow means lower pressure by Bernoulli's principle, so the pressure above the wing falls below that underneath and the difference multiplied by the wing area provides the lift. The wing also deflects air downwards, and by Newton's third law that contributes lift as well, so both descriptions account for the same force. The pressure above never reaches zero.
This question appeared on the UHS MDCAT 2025 paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
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About Bernoulli's Equation
Bernoulli’s equation applies conservation of energy to steady flow of an incompressible, non-viscous fluid along a streamline: pressure, kinetic and gravitational terms have a constant total. It explains pressure-speed changes in narrow pipes, Venturi meters and lift, and differs from continuity because it relates pressure as well as velocity and height.
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