A manual for student pilots contains this passage: “When an airplane flies at a steady altitude, neither climbing nor descending, the upward lift force from the wings equals the plane’s weight. When the plane is climbing at a steady rate, the upward lift is greater than the weight; when the plane is descending at a steady rate, the upward lift is less than the weight.” Are these statements correct? Explain.

A manual for student pilots contains this passage: “When an airplane flies at a steady altitude, neither climbing nor descending, the upward lift force from the wings equals the plane’s weight. When the plane is climbing at a steady rate, the upward lift is greater than the weight; when the plane is descending at a steady rate, the upward lift is less than the weight.” Are these statements correct? Explain.