Segment V9.9: Wing Tip Vorticies

(Related to Textbook Section 9.4.2 - Circulation)

The pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of an airfoil causes trailing vorticies to form at the tips of the wing.

The spoiler (wing) on a race car is used to produce a downward force, allowing the car to corner better. The high pressure surface for this negative lift device is the upper surface. The resulting trailing vorticies are made visible by the injection of smoke. Some airplane wings have vertical winglets at the wing tips to help reduce the effect of the trailing vorticies and therefore make the wing more efficient. (Video courtesy of the National Research Council of Canada and the Institute for Aerospace Research.)