What principle explains lift generation in an airplane?

The generation of lift in an airplane is primarily explained by Bernoulli's principle, which relates to the behavior of fluid flow over a surface. According to Bernoulli's principle, an increase in the velocity of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure. As air flows over the airfoil (wing shape) of an airplane, the design of the wing causes the air to move faster over the top surface compared to the bottom surface. This difference in velocity creates a corresponding difference in pressure, leading to lower pressure above the wing and higher pressure below it. The resulting pressure difference creates an upward force on the wing known as lift, enabling the airplane to rise into the air.

While Newton's laws do play a role in understanding lift through the concept of action and reaction as well as the forces acting on the wing, Bernoulli's principle provides the most direct explanation of the pressure differences that lead to lift generation. Aerodynamic drag and equal and opposite reactions are relevant concepts in aerodynamics but do not provide the specific explanation for how lift is generated as effectively as Bernoulli's principle.