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Winging It on the Water

Hydrofoils at the front and back of two military boats lift the hulls of the boats out of the water as they speed forward.
Credit: U.S. Navy

A hydrofoil is a submerged “wing” attached beneath a boat. As the boat picks up speed, the hydrofoil generates lift in the water in the same way a wing generates lift in the air. The lifting force raises the boat’s hull out of the water, reducing drag and allowing the boat to move faster.

Categories: Aerodynamics, Bernoulli principle, Flaps
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