Encyclopedia of Science | Aerodynamics

• Factors affecting air flow
• Laminar and turbulent flow
• Skin friction and pressure drag
• Words to Know
• Airfoil
• Induced drag
• Bernoulli's Principle
• Stability and control
• Supersonic flight

Aerodynamics is the study of air flow over airplanes, cars, and other objects. Airplanes fly because of the way in which air flows over their wings and around their bodies, so a knowledge of aerodynamics is crucial to the design and construction of airplanes. The efficiency with which automobiles use fuel is also a function of air flow. Even stationary objects are affected by...