Chapter 20, Problem 53A

Explain how an airplane is able to fly upside down.

To determine

To explain: The reason behind the flying of an airplane upside down.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The angle between the axis of the wing and the direction of the incoming wind is called angle of attack.

As the top of wing is curved than the bottom, so the air pressure will be less over the wing. But this is not the main reason behind the flying of an airplane upside down. An airplane that is flying upside down depends on the angle of attack.With the leading edge up if a wing is tilted then air that tends to pile under the wing will cause high pressure and thus pushes the wing upwards as the wing is riding on the top of a dense air.

Conclusion:

Hence, the airplanes fly upside down is due to tilted wings only, but not the shape of the wing.