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Testing for lift - Answers

1. What is the point of impact?
   
   A high pressure point where the airflow strikes the leading edge of the wing section (airfoil).
   
   
2. What causes the upward force on the lower surface of an airfoil?
   
   Newton’s third law operates when the air passing under the airfoil is deflected downward, this causing an upward force.
   
   
3. What principle leads to the low pressure area on top of the airfoil?
   
   Bernoulli’s Principle
   .
4. What are the components of the total aerodynamic force?
   
   Lift (the resultant of the lower surface force and the upper surface lift) and drag (the force that resists the movement of the airfoil through the air).
   
   
5. What three factors affect the amount of lift set up on a given airfoil section? (Any three of these answers)
   
   
   1. increased airspeed over the airfoil
   2. the area of the airfoil
   3. the angle of attack (up to a point)
   4. Air density
      
      
6. What happens as the angle of attack increases?
   
   The airfoil begins to stall, the airflow becomes turbulent over the airfoil causing a loss in lift.
   
   
7. The wing section tested weighed 10.8g. What are the minimum conditions for it to fly?
   
   The minimum conditions would be 1.7m/s airspeed and an angle of attack of about 12 degrees.

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