answersLogoWhite

0

Lift is calculated using the following equation:

L = 1/2 p V2ACL

Where:

L = Lift which is typically the weight of the aircraft

p = air density (altitude and temperature effect this variable)

V = velocity of the aircraft (this is the airspeed)

A = wing area (including the section of the wing that is inside the fuselage)

CL = is specific to each aircraft. This coefficient is calculated in a wind tunnel and is typically provided as a graph relative to the angle of attack.

User Avatar

Wiki User

17y ago

Still curious? Ask our experts.

Chat with our AI personalities

LaoLao
The path is yours to walk; I am only here to hold up a mirror.
Chat with Lao
EzraEzra
Faith is not about having all the answers, but learning to ask the right questions.
Chat with Ezra
SteveSteve
Knowledge is a journey, you know? We'll get there.
Chat with Steve
More answers

Lift by a wing is given by the equation:

FL = 1/2 CL ρ A v2

where

CL is the lift coefficient and depends on the angle of attack
ρ is the density of air
A is the wing area
v is the speed of the aircraft

So lift depends on these 4 variables.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How do you calculate Lift in aircraft?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Engineering

How can a wings lift be increased?

Lift can be increased by curving the wing downward. Most aircraft have 'flaps' at the rear inner edge of the wing to achieve this. Some aircraft even have 'slats' at the front of the wing to increase lift even more. - If you google 'aircraft slats', you will see a great picture of slats and flaps on an Airbus A310


Who first invented lift?

If we are talking about aircraft lift, it was likely discovered, not invented. You can discover Gold, you don't invent it...


Can an aircraft overcome lift without wings or propellers?

No, that is not possible except with rotors. (which I would include among propellers)


What is the difference between angle of attack and positive angle of attack?

Angle of attack may be negative or positive - it's simply the angle between the wing chord line and the oncoming airflow. If it's positive then the aircraft will benefit from the lift that is provided, if it's negative then there is no lift (but there's still drag). This is a potentially dangerous situation, unless you wish your aircraft to descend.


How fast does a propeller have to spin to lift a man off the ground?

That's a difficult question to answer. First, in the sense that a propeller is really an airfoil, it does, in fact, generate lift. However, the concept of lift with respect to aircraft, generally refers to the vertical lifting force, and this is produced by the airfoils (wings) and not the propeller. The propeller produces forward thrust which, when sufficient, generates the speed necessary for the wings to produce lift. So, back to the question: A propeller needs to turn fast enough to produce enough forward speed for the airfoils to produce sufficient lift for the aircraft to rise. The RPM necessary to do this depends on the size and number of blades, the power of the engine, the weight of the aircraft, and a number of other factors such as airport elevation, etc. Sorry this doesn't exactly answer the question, but hopefully it will help you craft a more specific question that can be answered more accurately.