Aerodynamic force


An aerodynamic force is a force exerted on a body by the air in which the body is immersed, and is due to the relative motion between the body and the gas. There are two causes of aerodynamic force:
Pressure acts normal to the surface, and shear force acts parallel to the surface. Both forces act locally. The net aerodynamic force on the body is equal to the pressure and shear forces integrated over the body's total exposed area.
When an airfoil moves relative to the air, it generates an aerodynamic force in a rearward direction, at an angle determined by the direction of relative motion. This aerodynamic force is commonly resolved into two components, acting through the body's center of pressure:
In addition to these two forces, the body may experience an aerodynamic moment.
The force created by propellers and jet engines is called thrust, and is also an aerodynamic force. The aerodynamic force on a powered airplane is commonly represented by three vectors: thrust, lift and drag.
The other force acting on an aircraft during flight is its weight, which is a body force and not an aerodynamic force.