My Science School

               As an aeroplane moves though the air, the air passes over the surface of the wings. These are shaped with a curved top surface and a flatter lower surface, which means that air passing over the top of the wing, has to travel a little faster than that below the wing. This lowers the pressure above the wing, while the air pressure below pushes up, and the end result is the lift that keeps the aeroplane in the air.

               The tail surfaces keep the wing at the proper angle to provide the right amount of lift. The power to propel the aeroplane can come from the engines or, in the case of gliders, from rising air currents.