Which factor primarily determines the lift produced by a wing?

The primary factor that determines the lift produced by a wing is closely tied to the wing's shape (airfoil design), the angle of attack, and the airspeed. These elements work together according to Bernoulli's principle and Newton's laws of motion to generate lift.

The shape of the wing, or airfoil, influences how air flows around it. An airfoil is designed to produce a pressure difference between its top and bottom surfaces as air travels over it. This pressure difference contributes to the upward force known as lift. When the angle of attack—the angle between the wing's chord line and the oncoming airflow—increases, it can enhance lift up to a certain point. However, if the angle becomes too steep, it may lead to flow separation and stall, reducing lift drastically.

Airspeed is another crucial factor; as a wing moves through the air faster, the airflow over the wing increases, which generally results in higher lift. The relationship among these factors is captured in the lift equation: (L = \frac{1}{2} \rho V^2 S C_L), where (L) represents lift, (\rho) is air density, (V) is the velocity of the aircraft,