Cadet Competition Written Practice Exam

The upper surface of an airplane's wing has more curvature or __________ than the surface under the wing.

1. Angle of attack

2. Dihedral

3. Camber

4. Root

The correct answer is: Camber

The correct answer, camber, pertains to the design of an airplane wing. Camber refers to the curvature of the wing's upper surface relative to the lower surface. When the upper surface has more curvature, it can create a pressure differential between the top and bottom of the wing. This differential is fundamental to generating lift, as the airflow over the more curved surface moves faster, resulting in lower pressure above the wing compared to the underside. The term angle of attack describes the angle between the wing's chord line and the oncoming air; while it directly affects lift, it doesn't specifically refer to the curvature of the wing surface. Dihedral refers to the upward angle of the wings concerning the horizontal plane, contributing to stability rather than curvature. The root pertains to the part of the wing closest to the fuselage and does not describe the curvature itself. Thus, camber is the most accurate term to describe the difference in curvature between the wing's upper and lower surfaces.