How do planes fly?
When a plane is in flight there are four forces which act on the plane. These forces are weight, lift, drag and thrust. These forces are aerodynamic forces, which arise when a fluid (a liquid or a gas, in this case air) moves over a solid object. The rules of aerodynamics explain how with these four forces a plane is able to take off and maintain altitude . Click on each of the following links to see each explanation of each force. The YouTube video below provides a visual representation of the forces.
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Aerial Navigation
A pilot controls a plane using the flaps and slats on the plane’s wings and tail. By controlling roll, yaw and pitch a pilot is able to turn and navigate the plane in the air. Click the links below to learn more.
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