• Question: How do planes fly?

    Asked by Luise to Hephzi, Imogen, Jen, Tom on 18 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Thomas Barrett

      Thomas Barrett answered on 18 Mar 2015:

      When the plane flies horizontally, lift (the upwards force) from the wings exactly balances the plane’s weight (pulling it down). But the other two forces do not balance: the thrust from the engines pushing forward always exceeds the drag (air resistance) pulling the plane back. That’s why the plane moves through the air.

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