2/15/13 Incorrect Lift Theory

+ Te x t O nly Site
+ Non-Flash Ve rsion
+ C ontact Gle nn

There are many theories of how lift is generated. Unfortunately, many of the theories found in encyclopedias, on web sites,
and even in some textbooks are incorrect, causing unnecessary confusion for students.

The theory described on this slide is often seen on web sites and in popular literature. The theory is based on the idea that
the airfoil upper surface is shaped to act as a nozzle which accelerates the flow. Such a nozzle configuration is called a
Venturi nozzle and it can be analyzed classically. Considering the conservation of mass, the mass flowing past any point
in the nozzle is a constant; the mass flow rate of a Venturi nozzle is a constant. The mass flow rate m dot is equal to the
density r times the velocity V times the flow area A:

m dot = r * V * A = constant

For a constant density, decreasing the area increases the velocity.

Turning to the incorrect airfoil theory, the top of the airfoil is curved, which constricts the flow. Since the area is decreased,
the velocity over the top of the foil is increased. Then from Bernoulli's equation, higher velocity produces a lower pressure on
the upper surface. The low pressure over the upper surface of the airfoil produces the lift.

Before considering what is wrong with this theory, let's investigate the actual flow around an airfoil by doing a couple of
experiments using a Java simulator which is solving the correct flow equations. Below the simulator is a text box with
instructions. Be sure that the slider on the right of the text box is pulled to the top to begin the experiments

www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/wrong3.html 1/3
2/15/13 Incorrect Lift Theory

Let's use the information we've just learned to evaluate the various parts of the "Venturi" Theory.

The theory is based on an analysis of a Venturi nozzle. But an airfoil is not a Venturi nozzle. There is no phantom
surface to produce the other half of the nozzle. In our experiments we've noted that the velocity gradually decreases
as you move away from the airfoil eventually approaching the free stream velocity. This is not the velocity found along
the centerline of a nozzle which is typically higher than the velocity along the wall.
The Venturi analysis cannot predict the lift generated by a flat plate. The leading edge of a flat plate presents no
constriction to the flow so there is really no "nozzle" formed. One could argue that a "nozzle" occurs when the angle
of the flat plate is negative. But as we have seen in Experiment #2, this produces a negative lift. The velocity actually
slows down on the upper surface at a negative angle of attack; it does not speed up as expected from the nozzle
model.
This theory deals with only the pressure and velocity along the upper surface of the airfoil. It neglects the shape of
the lower surface. If this theory were correct, we could have any shape we want for the lower surface, and the lift
would be the same. This obviously is not the way it works - the lower surface does contribute to the lift generated by
an airfoil. (In fact, one of the other incorrect theories proposed that only the lower surface produces lift!)
The part of the theory about Bernoulli's equation and a difference in pressure existing across the airfoil is correct. In
fact, this theory is very appealing because there are parts of the theory that are correct. In our discussions on
pressure-area integration to determine the force on a body immersed in a fluid, we mentioned that if we knew the
velocity, we could obtain the pressure and determine the force. The problem with the "Venturi" theory is that it
attempts to provide us with the velocity based on an incorrect assumption (the constriction of the flow produces the
velocity field). We can calculate a velocity based on this assumption, and use Bernoulli's equation to compute the
pressure, and perform the pressure-area calculation and the answer we get does not agree with the lift that we
measure for a given airfoil.

You can download your own copy of the program to run off-line by clicking on this button:

Activities:

www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/wrong3.html 2/3
2/15/13 Incorrect Lift Theory
Guided Tours

Theories of Lift:

Navigation ..

Beginner's Guide Home Page

+ Inspe ctor Ge ne ral Hotline Editor: Tom Be nson

+ Equal Em ploym e nt O pportunity Data NASA O fficial: Tom Be nson
Poste d Pursuant to the No Fe ar Act Last Update d: Jul 28 2008
+ Budge ts, Strate gic Plans and Accountability + C ontact Gle nn
R e ports
+ Fre e dom of Inform ation Act
+ The Pre side nt's Manage m e nt Age nda
+ NASA Privacy State m e nt, Disclaim e r,
and Acce ssibility C e rtification

www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/wrong3.html 3/3