Learning Byte Summary ▾
Learning Objectives (LOs):
  • describe how planes fly
  • explain the four forces: lift, weight (gravity), drag, and thrust
Grade level: Middle school
Duration: 10 min
Key ideas: Lift; Weight (gravity); Drag; Thrust

Introduction to aerodynamic forces

What keeps a plane up in the air?

Graphic of albatross in flght.
Graphic of radio-controlled (RC) plane with remote controllerM1
The four forces on an aircraft
The four forces on an aircraftM2

There are four forces that act on a plane in the air. These forces are:

  • Lift: the upward force from air that helps an object rise.
  • Weight (gravity): the downward pull of Earth.
  • Thrust: the forward push from engines, flapping, or a propeller.

  • Drag: the backward force from air resistance.

  • Lift, weight, thrust, and drag are known as aerodynamic forces.
  • The propeller provides the force (thrust) that moves the plane forward.
  • The wing surface is curved. It pushes the air downward. This creates the lift force that makes the plane rise.
  • Gravity (weight) is constantly pulling the plane downward.
  • As a plane moves through the air, it experiences air resistance (drag), which tries to slow it down.
  • When lift is greater than weight, the plane goes up!
  • When thrust is greater than drag, it moves forward.

Control surfaces of a plane

Have you ever wondered how a plane is able to move in the air? It has three main control surfaces that allow it to change its motion: ailerons, the rudder, and the elevator.

Plane control surfaces
Plane control surfacesM4
  • Planes have three main control surfaces: ailerons for roll, rudder for yaw, and elevator for pitch.
  • Roll motion is controlled by ailerons; moving one up causes the plane to roll in the opposite direction.
  • Yaw motion is controlled by the rudder; moving it left or right causes the plane to turn in the direction of the rudder.
  • Pitch motion is controlled by the elevator; moving it up causes the nose of the plane to go up, and moving it down causes the plane’s nose to dip.

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References

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Media Credits

  1. M1
    Radio-controlled (RC) plane
    Fred Hsu · Wikimedia Commons · 2017 · CC BY-SA 3.0
  2. M2
    The four forces on an aircraft
    Amada44 · Wikimedia Commons · 2007 · Public Domain
  3. M3
    Domestic pigeon flight
    Derivative work Tony Wills, rearragned by Toby Hudson · Wikimedia Commons · 2009 · CC BY-SA 3.0
  4. M4
    Plane control surfaces
    Ravi Sinha · Amazing Birds · 2026 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
How to Cite: Sinha, R. (2026). Aerodynamic Forces. Amazing Birds. https://amazing-birds.gitlab.io/
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