Air flow speed at top of airplane wing

AI Thread Summary
To determine the required airflow speed over the top surface of an aircraft wing for a lift of 25.4 lb/ft^2 with a bottom surface speed of 500 ft/s, the relevant equation is Pb - Pt = 1/2p(Vf^2 - Vb^2). The user struggles with unit conversions, specifically between lb/ft^2 and slugs/ft^2, which complicates the calculations. The correct approach involves recognizing that 25.4 lb/ft^2 can be converted to slugs/ft^2 using gravitational acceleration. The discussion highlights the importance of consistent unit usage in fluid dynamics calculations. Accurate airflow speed calculations are crucial for achieving the necessary lift in aircraft design.
kashmirekat
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Hello all,

Here's my problem, verbatim:
An aircraft wing requires a lift of 25.4 lb/ft^2. If the speed of flow of the air along the bottom surface of the wing is to be 500ft/s, what must be the speed of flow over the top surface of the wing to give the required lift?
(NOTE: Density of air is 2.54 x 10^-3 slug/ft^3)

F = 25.4lb/ft^2 = 0.789 slug/ft^2
Vb = 500ft/s

The equation I am using is
FA = 1/2p(Vf^2-Vb^2)A
However, I do not have the area for this problem and I was told that I don't need it, to use the equation Pb - Pt = 1/2p(Vf^2-Vb^2) and the 25.4 lb/ft^2 corresponds to (Pb-Pt). I've tried doing the equation, but units do not come out correctly.

0.789 slug/ft^2 = 1/2(2.54 x 10^-3 slug/ft^3)(Vf^2 - (500ft/s)^2)
0.789 slug/ft^2 = (1.27 x 10 ^-3 slug/ft^3)(Vf^2 - 250,000ft^2/s^2)
0.789 slug/ft^2 = (1.27 x 10 ^-3 slug/ft^3)Vf^2 - 317.5 slug/fts^2
0.789 slug/ft^2 + 317.5 slug/fts^2 = (1.27 x 10 ^-3 slug/ft^3)Vf^2
621.26ft + 250,000ft^2/s^2 = Vf^2

Where did I go wrong? Some people were getting 519, but that's only if you use 25.4 lb/ft^2, and you can't do that unless you ignore units of lb and slug.
Thank you for your help and have a nice day!
 
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lb/ft^2 does not convert into slugs/ft^2

It coverts into \frac{slug*\frac{ft}{sec^2}}{ft^2}

or

\frac{slug}{ft*sec^2}
 
Thank you.
 
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