Editing Lift (force) (section)

{{Short description|Force perpendicular to flow of surrounding fluid}}
{{Other uses|Lift (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
[[File:Wright Glider 1902.jpg|thumb|The 1902 [[Wright Glider]] shows its lift by pulling up]]

When a [[fluid]] flows around an object, the fluid exerts a [[force]] on the object. '''Lift''' is the [[Euclidean_vector#Decomposition_or_resolution|component]] of this force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction.<ref name="What is Lift">{{cite web|publisher=NASA Glenn Research Center|title=What is Lift?|work=Glenn Research Center &#124; NASA |url=https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/what-is-lift/|access-date=February 9, 2023|archive-date=February 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209111213/https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/what-is-lift/|url-status=live}}</ref> It contrasts with the [[drag (physics)|drag]] force, which is the component of the force parallel to the flow direction. Lift conventionally acts in an upward direction in order to counter the force of [[gravity]], but it is defined to act perpendicular to the flow and therefore can act in any direction.

If the surrounding fluid is air, the force is called an [[aerodynamic force]]. In water or any other liquid, it is called a [[Fluid dynamics|hydrodynamic force]].

Dynamic lift is distinguished from other kinds of lift in fluids. [[Aerostatics|Aerostatic]] lift or [[buoyancy]], in which an internal fluid is lighter than the surrounding fluid, does not require movement and is used by balloons, blimps, dirigibles, boats, and submarines. [[Planing (boat)|Planing lift]], in which only the lower portion of the body is immersed in a liquid flow, is used by motorboats, surfboards, windsurfers, sailboats, and water-skis.