Textbook

Pressure

Fluid pressure also affects flight. When a fluid moves over or through an object, it gives small pushes on the surface of the object. These pushes, over the entire surface, are defined as pressure and are measured as force per unit area (square inches, square meters). In metric units, pressure is measured in Newtons per square meter. In the English system, pressure is usually measured in pounds per square inch. Example: The atmosphere (air) presses on your skin at 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi).

Pressure can be powerful. A small pressure, spread over a very large area, can add up to be a very large force. Air pressure decreases as altitude increases; pressure also decreases when the speed of the fluid (air, water) increases. When the temperature of a fluid increases, so does the pressure. The pressures on an object directly affects its flight capabilities!

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