Why do wings have multiple elements?

[peanutaxis]

Is it because every wing has an ideal speed at which it works best, so they make multiple wings to work through the entire range of speeds that they need to produce downforce?

[flynfrog]

Is it because every wing has an ideal speed at which it works best, so they make multiple wings to work through the entire range of speeds that they need to produce downforce?

no.

With the extreme angles of attack the wings become more efficient if broken into separate air foils. PS Try the search function lots of threads on the topic.

[NoDivergence]

Look up slot effects airfoils on google. Essentially, at very high angle of attack, a single element airfoil will stall and have flow separate. By splitting this into multiple elements, the slot effect will allow re-energization of the boundary layer

[flynfrog]

start here maybe

http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewto ... f=6&t=9609

[keroro.90]

Look up slot effects airfoils on google. Essentially, at very high angle of attack, a single element airfoil will stall and have flow separate. By splitting this into multiple elements, the slot effect will allow re-energization of the boundary layer

Exactly...infact the sucessive element is always above the precedent element....