Team A7 “Aerial Ace” uses Bernoulli's principle and equations to explain how airfoils generate lift for flight. Bernoulli's principle states that as the speed of a fluid increases, the pressure decreases. According to the continuity equation, the asymmetric shape of an airfoil causes the air flowing over the top surface to increase in velocity compared to the air on the bottom surface. This increase in speed leads to a decrease in pressure on top of the airfoil, while the pressure remains higher below the airfoil. The difference in pressure generates lift, allowing the airfoil and airplane to become airborne.

1. Team A7 “Aerial Ace”<br />Bernoulli’s Principle<br />Bernoulli’s Principle states that for a fluid with no viscosity, an increase in the speed of the fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure of that fluid.<br />Bernoulli’s Equation: P + (1/2)pV^2 = constant<br />P = pressure <br />p = density of the fluid<br />V = velocity of the moving object or fluid<br />Continuity Equation: P x A x V = constant<br />P = Pressure<br />A = cross sectional area of flow<br />V = Velocity<br />According to this equation, air flowing over an airfoil creates lift. An airfoil is asymmetrical. An airfoil’s surface area is greater on the top than on the bottom. Thus, according to the continuity equation, this loss of flow area must lead to an increase in velocity. <br />According to the Bernoulli equation, an increase in velocity of a fluid leads to a decrease in pressure. The air flowing over the top of the airfoil is moving faster than the air below the airfoil, as established. Thus, air flowing over the airfoil will decrease in pressure and the air below the airfoil will have comparatively higher pressure. This difference in pressures between the air below and the air above the airfoil is lift, which causes the airfoil, and the airplane attached to it, to lift off the ground.<br />