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  • Understanding the Forces That Keep an Airplane Aloft: Lift, Weight, Thrust & Drag
    When a plane is flying, the two forces that must be balanced are:

    1. Lift and Weight (Gravity):

    * Lift is the upward force generated by the wings, which counteracts the force of gravity pulling the plane down.

    * Weight is the force of gravity acting on the plane's mass.

    2. Thrust and Drag:

    * Thrust is the forward force generated by the engines, propelling the plane through the air.

    * Drag is the resistance to motion caused by air friction, acting in the opposite direction of motion.

    For stable flight, these pairs of forces must be equal and opposite, creating a state of equilibrium.

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