What is the upward force that opposes gravity and supports the weight of an aircraft?

What is the upward force that opposes gravity and supports the weight of an aircraft?

• A. Lift
• B. Leading edge
• C. Drag
• D. Aviation

Answer: (A)

Lift is the upward force that opposes gravity and supports the weight of an aircraft. It is generated mainly by the wings as air flows around them; the wing’s shape and angle of attack create a pressure difference—lower pressure above the wing and higher pressure below—that pushes the wing upward. In steady, level flight, lift balances weight; if lift increases, the aircraft climbs, and if lift decreases, the aircraft descends. The other terms in the choices aren’t forces that support the weight: the leading edge is just the front part of the wing, drag is the backward resistance to motion, and aviation is the field of flight.

Lift is the upward force that opposes gravity and supports the weight of an aircraft. It is generated mainly by the wings as air flows around them; the wing’s shape and angle of attack create a pressure difference—lower pressure above the wing and higher pressure below—that pushes the wing upward. In steady, level flight, lift balances weight; if lift increases, the aircraft climbs, and if lift decreases, the aircraft descends. The other terms in the choices aren’t forces that support the weight: the leading edge is just the front part of the wing, drag is the backward resistance to motion, and aviation is the field of flight.