Physics of Flight

Physics of Flight
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The Four Forces of Flight
A force is a pull or a push that acts in a direction that is specific. It is also a vector quantity, which means that it not only has magnitude but it also has a direction. This is one of the primary reasons why forces are typically described by direction and magnitude. Flight entails a process through which an object is capable of moving beyond or through the atmosphere. This has been possible due to four major forces in the process of flight, which are Lift, Weight, Thrust and Drag (“The Four forces,” N.d).
Lift
To overcome the force of its weight, the plane should generate an opposite force that is called the lift. This is usually produced by the airplane’s motion through the air and is termed as the aerodynamic force. Interestingly, the force is directed toward the direction of flight in a manner that is perpendicular. This force’s magnitude is dependent on the size, velocity, and shape of the airplane. Most of this force is produced by the wings, and it typically acts on the center of pressure.
Drag
This is the force generated due to the air resistance towards the plane and is usually directed in opposition to and along the direction of flight. Just like lift, different factors like shape, velocity, and weight generally affect it. Furthermore, this force acts on the center of pressure.
Thrust
This is a type of force that is generated by the propulsion system to overcome the forces of drag. This force’s direction is contingent on the positioning of the engines of the airplane.

In most cases, they are positioned under the wings, in a manner that is parallel to the aircraft’s body, making the thrust act along the centerline of the body. The thrust’s magnitude depends on the number of engines, engine type and setting of the throttle (“Four Forces on an Airplane” N.d).
Conclusion
The airplane’s motion is highly dependent on these individual forces and their relative direction and strength. A balance of these forces means that the aircraft will fly with a constant velocity, and when they are unbalanced, the airplane accelerates in the direction where the resultant force is located.

References
Four Forces on an Airplane. (N.d). Grc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 18 December 2018, from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/forces.htmlThe Four Forces. (N.d). Howthingsfly.si.edu. Retrieved 16 December 2018, from https://howthingsfly.si.edu/forces-flight/four-forces