What is aerodynamics?[ EDU Science ]

 What is aerodynamics and aerodynamics engineering?

What do we mean by Aerodynamics?

Aerodynamics is the study of forces and the resulting motion of objects through the air. Studying the motion of air around an object allows us to measure the forces of lift, which allows an aircraft to overcome gravity, and drag, which is the resistance an aircraft “feels” as it moves through the air. 

What Are the Four Forces of Flight?

The four forces of flight are lift, weight, thrust, and drag. These forces make an object move up and down faster or slower. How much of each force there are changes how the object moves through the air.

How Do an Airplane's Wings Provide Lift?

The shape of an airplane's wings is what makes it able to fly. Airplanes' wings are curved on top and flatter on the bottom. That shape makes airflow over the top faster than under the bottom. So, less air pressure is on top of the wing. This condition makes the wing, and the airplane it's attached, move up. Using curves to change air pressure is a trick used on many aircraft. Helicopter rotor blades use this trick. Lift for kites also comes from a curved shape. Even sailboats use this concept. A boat's sail is like a wing. That's what makes the sailboat move.

What Is Lift?

Lift is the push that lets something move up. It is the force that is the opposite of weight. Everything that flies must have a

lift. For an aircraft to move upward, it must have more lift than weight. Lift for an airplane comes from its wings.

What Is Drag?

Drag is a force that tries to slow something down. It makes it hard for an object to move. The shape of an object also changes the

amount of drag. Most round surfaces have less drag than flat ones. The more air that hits a surface, the more drag it makes.

What Is Weight?

Everything on Earth has weight. This force comes from gravity pulling down on objects. To fly, an aircraft needs something to push it in the opposite direction from gravity.

What Is Thrust?

Thrust is the force that is the opposite of drag. Thrust

is the push that moves something forward. For an aircraft to keep moving forward, it must have more thrust than drag.