Aviation Physics: Key Terms and Principles for Flight

Lift

Upward force created by wings

Weight (Gravity)

Downward force pulling plane toward Earth

Thrust

Forward force produced by engines

Drag

Air resistance pushing backward

Bernoulli's Principle

Air moving faster has lower pressure which creates lift

Airfoil

Wing shape designed to produce lift

Angle of attack

Angle between wing and incoming air

Stall

Loss of lift when airflow separates from wing

Fuselage

Main body of the airplane

Wing

Creates lift

Horizontal stabilizer

Controls pitch (up and down)

Vertical stabilizer

Controls yaw (left and right)

Pitch

Up and down rotation

Yaw

Left and right rotation

Roll

Wing tilting rotation

Dihedral

Wings angled upward for stability

Aspect ratio

Length of wings compared to width