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First contact: K.N. Viswanathan | Anmol Agrawal | Tamal Biswas | Harilakshmi M.Physics of staying airborneWhen the engines of this aeroplane were removed, heavy winds were able to tilt it backwards. This is because the centre of gravity in its body shifted to the rear.START THE QUIZ
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The faster the air flows over the curved upper surface of the wing, the lower the pressure there. This is called X’s principle: aeroplanes use it to generate lift and stay airborne. Name X.
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For an aeroplane, the angle between the wing’s chord line and the oncoming airflow is called the angle of _____. It is used to control lift and to keep the plane from stalling. At its critical value, the plane’s lift coefficient is at its highest. Fill in the blank.
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The propulsion systems onboard a conventional aeroplane accelerate air (or exhaust gases from the engines) backward, thus producing thrust in the forward direction. Name the quantity whose conservation allows this mechanism.
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The movable parts of an aeroplane’s wings and tail that let pilots steer and stabilise the aircraft are called its _______ ________. They’re like the muscles of the plane and are used to change how air flows over different sections, creating forces that lift, push or drop the vehicle. Fill in the blanks.
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The ________ _____ is the thin skin of air that hugs an aeroplane’s wings, fuselage, tail, etc. Even though it is typically only a few millimeters to centimeters thick, it has an outsized influence on flight characteristics. Fill in the blanks.
READ MORE Published – August 27, 2025 08:00 am IST
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