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Q:
How does the wingtip vortex reduce the amount of lift generated by the wing?
A:
The difference in air pressure between the top and bottom of a wing create wingtip vortices, air that trails off the tips of a wing in spirals. Those trailing vortices deflect the airflow downward, creating downwash. Downwash reduces lift by decreasing the angle of attack a wing "feels". The downwash sends some of the lift force backwards instead of up. This is called vortex drag.
Posted on May 27, 2013 at 10:03 am
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