Another common approach relies on treating the upper surface of a wing as half of a Venturi tube. A Venturi tube accelerates fluid by constricting its flow channel.
In the real physical world, fluid viscosity prevents this sharp U-turn. The air cannot handle the infinite acceleration required to wrap around a razor-sharp trailing edge. Instead, the flow adjusts itself so that the air leaves the upper and lower surfaces smoothly, meeting exactly at the sharp trailing edge. This physical requirement is called the . Generating the Starting Vortex understanding aerodynamics arguing from the real physics pdf
This smooth exit forces the flow over the top to accelerate, establishing the pressure imbalance needed for flight. 🛑 Common Misconceptions to Avoid Another common approach relies on treating the upper
Because air is a continuous, compressible medium, this pressure disturbance is not confined to the surface of the wing. It propagates outward in all directions. The low-pressure zone above the wing reaches far up into the atmosphere, drawing air down from high above before it even touches the leading edge. This creates ahead of the wing and a massive, sweeping downwash behind it. Why the "Real Physics" Perspective Matters The air cannot handle the infinite acceleration required
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NASA’s Glenn Research Center explicitly labels this explanation —and for multiple reasons.