- #1
mmwave
- 647
- 2
I was engaged in a discussion where someone claimed that Newton's Third Law does not apply to the lift created by air flow over a wing.
My argument goes as follows:
After all the equations, etc. involving fluid dynamics and Bernoulli's principle there is an upward force on the wing. Newton's 3rd law says that if there is an upward force on the wing there must be an equal and oppposite downward force. The wing pushes downward on the air and the air pushes upward on the wing.
Comments?
I'm not saying that Bernoulli is wrong, only that the 3rd law still applies here.
My argument goes as follows:
After all the equations, etc. involving fluid dynamics and Bernoulli's principle there is an upward force on the wing. Newton's 3rd law says that if there is an upward force on the wing there must be an equal and oppposite downward force. The wing pushes downward on the air and the air pushes upward on the wing.
Comments?
I'm not saying that Bernoulli is wrong, only that the 3rd law still applies here.