Why is the leading edge of a rear wing curved up?

[gixxer_drew]

Air seeks to move from high pressure to low pressure from every direction. So when there is a low pressure area (bottom of a wing) all the air is rushing to fill it and you have a direction of flow that is not parallel to ground plane. I always struggle to explain things like this, I hope that makes sense.

[shelly]

If you have a bit of time I suggest reading this:

http://www.regenpress.com/

with excerpts from the famous "Stop abusing Bernoulli!" book.

[volarchico]

Excellent link. It should be mandatory reading before posting to the "aerodynamics" section of this forum!

[hollus]

Read it! And now I qualify to post here, I hope retroactively!
Very interesting the description of curved air movements and the pressure gradient created by centrifugal force. Very relevant in the thread too!

...and yes, through all the talk of Bernoulli, vortexes, etc, the good old Newton's laws still apply and downforce involves (mostly) moving air upwards...

Fantastic link.

[marekk]

And if anyone still doesn't belive in circulation theory of lift:

http://vimeo.com/10137777

[ringo]

circulation theory is part of any good fluid dynamics course.
I can't remember half of it though. It's in the text anyway.

[godlameroso]

Stupid physicists with their vectors , I wonder when we will obliterate the convenient fiction of lines, and line segments, and just consider all movement cyclical, my Tai Chi teacher taught me all movements of the human body are circular, maybe he's on to something .

[strad]

I would relate this back to the discussion on the FEE and the fact that it creates a vortex that help seal/ skirt the edge of the side pod.

[godlameroso]

Blowing exhaust doesn't create a vortex (yes I'm nit-picking) It's the way the exhaust interacts with the air-stream that promotes the formation of vortex. Heck it happens even without exhaust blowing in the air stream. Using exhausts only accelerates it's formation.