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Engineering Sciences
Aerospace Engineering
20th century
Intermediate

Lift Equation

L=12ρv2SCLL = \frac{1}{2} \rho v^2 S C_L

Lift force proportional to dynamic pressure, wing area, and lift coefficient.

By Various

Engineering Sciences
Lift Equation
20th century · Various
Human Reviewed
84%

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Why it matters: Enabled powered flight and modern aviation.

Discoverers: Various (20th century)

What does it mean?

Lift force proportional to dynamic pressure, wing area, and lift coefficient.

Why should I care?

Enabled powered flight and modern aviation.

Equation Compass

North — Prerequisites

West — History

South — Derivations

Variables & Units

SymbolNameUnitMeaning
LLLiftNLift force
ρρAir densitykg/m³
vvVelocitym/sAirspeed
SSWing area
CLC_LLift coefficientDimensionless

Worked Example

Double speed quadruples lift (v² dependence).

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Lift Equation

L=12ρv2SCLL = \frac{1}{2} \rho v^2 S C_L

Real-world impact

Engineering & climate

Fluid models power transport and forecasting.

Photo: Unsplash — aircraft

Lift force proportional to dynamic pressure, wing area, and lift coefficient.

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