Bernoulli's principle states that within a confined system, total energy remains constant, so if the velocity of a fluid increases, the pressure decreases. When air flows over an airfoil, its velocity increases and pressure decreases above the airfoil compared to below it, resulting in higher pressure below pushing the airfoil up. Most but not all of the lift is produced by this differential pressure - the rest is produced by Newton's third law of motion, as the air deflecting downward exerts an equal and opposite force lifting the airfoil upward.

1. Bernoulli and his Principal of Airflow
Within any confined system, total energy
remains constant. If one component of energy
increases, there must be a corresponding
decrease in other components.
Total pressure within the confined system is
the summation of static and dynamic pressure

2. Venturi Tube
(subsonic, incompressible flow)
The volume of air passing any given point per unit of
time is equal throughout the tube.
This is known as MASS FLOW RATE
Slow velocity of air with As air velocity increases,
equal static and
equal static and static pressure decreases,
dynamic pressures
dynamic pressures dynamic pressure increases

3. Airfoil
Lets take half of that venturi tube and see what happens
when we move air across the shape
Lets assume there is no upper physical limit of the tube
The flow closest to the airfoil conforms to the shape of the
airfoil while the air farthest from the airfoil remains horizontal
and acts like the upper surface of the venturi

4. How is most of the lift produced?
Since air has a greater distance to travel over the upper surface there is
a greater velocity increase and pressure decrease over the upper
surface than the lower surface. The higher pressure below the airfoil
seeks the lower pressure above causing the airfoil to move up.
Low Pressure Area
Static =1 Static =5
=9 = 10
Dynamic = 8 Dynamic = 5
Static =4
= 10
Dynamic = 6
Static =4
= 11
High Pressure Area Dynamic = 7
High seeks Low

5. Question
If the differential in pressures produces most of
the lift, what is producing the rest of the lift?
The remaining lift is a result of Newton’s third law of motion,
Action and Reaction

6. Questions?