Which principle explains the lift generated by a wing?

The principle that explains the lift generated by a wing is Bernoulli's principle. This principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure. In the context of an aircraft wing, as air travels over the wing, it moves faster over the curved top surface than it does underneath the flatter bottom surface.

According to Bernoulli's principle, the increased speed of the air over the top of the wing results in lower pressure compared to the higher pressure beneath the wing. This pressure difference creates an upward force known as lift, which is essential for the aircraft to take off, fly, and maintain altitude.

While Newton's third law, which states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, also contributes to understanding lift (as the wing pushes air down and the reaction is the wing being pushed upward), Bernoulli's principle is primarily what explains the varying pressure dynamics that cause lift in this context. Archimedes' principle relates to buoyancy, which isn't applicable here, and conservation of momentum typically refers to the movement of objects and momentum transfer rather than the fluid dynamics involved in generating lift.