In the context of lift, what is true about the airflow over and under the wing?

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In the context of lift and how it is generated by an aircraft wing, the statement that air moves faster over the wing is a fundamental aspect of the Bernoulli principle. As airflows over the wing, which is typically designed with an airfoil shape, the contour of the wing causes the air to accelerate as it moves over the top surface.

This acceleration leads to a decrease in pressure above the wing according to Bernoulli's principle, which states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure. Meanwhile, the air beneath the wing moves slower because it has a larger distance to cover due to the angle of attack of the wing. This creates a pressure difference between the top and bottom surfaces of the wing, resulting in lift.

Hence, the concept that air moves faster over the wing is essential to understanding how lift is generated and why aircraft are able to fly.

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