What is the relationship between pressure and lift in the context of wing design?

The relationship between pressure and lift in wing design is fundamentally based on how pressure differences generate aerodynamic lift. When air flows over and under a wing, the shape of the wing causes variations in airflow speed and, consequently, pressure. According to Bernoulli's principle, as the speed of the airflow increases, the pressure decreases.

In a typical airfoil design, the wing is curved on top and relatively flat on the bottom. As the wing moves through the air, the air traveling over the curved top surface must travel faster than the air traveling along the flatter bottom surface. This results in lower pressure on top of the wing and higher pressure beneath the wing. The difference in pressure creates an upward force, which we classify as lift.

Thus, lower pressure beneath the wing is a significant contributor to generating lift. This principle is essential when designing wings for aircraft, as increasing the curvature or angle of attack can enhance this pressure differential even further.