Which phenomenon is described as having spanwise flow from the bottom of the wing to the top?

Which phenomenon is described as having spanwise flow from the bottom of the wing to the top?

• A. Lift-induced drag
• B. Wing tip vortices
• C. Ground effect
• D. Boundary layer separation

Answer: (B)

The phenomenon characterized by spanwise flow from the bottom of the wing to the top is known as wing tip vortices. This occurs primarily due to the pressure differential between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing, which causes air to flow around the wingtips. As high-pressure air from beneath the wing moves to the low-pressure region above the wing, it creates a vortex that trails behind the wing. This vortex has a significant impact on the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft and is an important consideration during takeoff and landing near other aircraft since it can influence their flight paths. Understanding wing tip vortices is crucial in the context of flight safety and efficiency, as they contribute to induced drag and affect the performance of following aircraft. This leads to the need for safe spacing between aircraft to avoid encountering the turbulent wake created by these vortices.

The phenomenon characterized by spanwise flow from the bottom of the wing to the top is known as wing tip vortices. This occurs primarily due to the pressure differential between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing, which causes air to flow around the wingtips. As high-pressure air from beneath the wing moves to the low-pressure region above the wing, it creates a vortex that trails behind the wing. This vortex has a significant impact on the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft and is an important consideration during takeoff and landing near other aircraft since it can influence their flight paths.

Understanding wing tip vortices is crucial in the context of flight safety and efficiency, as they contribute to induced drag and affect the performance of following aircraft. This leads to the need for safe spacing between aircraft to avoid encountering the turbulent wake created by these vortices.