Bernoulli's equation and an airplane's wing? - Answers

Bernoulli's equations explain 100% of the lifting force created by wings. But Newton's third law also explains 100% of the lifting force. This should not be suprising, since Bernoulli's equations are based on Newton's laws. Bernoulli and Newton are two different ways of explaining a complicated situation. Neither is more "right" than the other. If we choose one explanation while ignoring the other, then our understanding of flight will be incomplete. To be clearer... Bernoulli's equation describes the lifting force in terms of pressures applied to the wing surface. There are no other forces involved. If we know the pattern of pressures, then we know the lifting force. Yet the explanation of flight remains incomplete. Wings feel pressure because they change the motion of the surrounding "parcels" of air, and air has mass. If a wing applies a force which causes air to accelerate downwards, then by Newton's 2nd and 3rd laws, the wing must experience an equal upwards lifting force. If we know the acceleration of the air surrounding the wing, then we know the lifting force.