ground effect
Low-altitude aerodynamic boost
Ground effect is the increased lift and reduced drag that occurs when an aircraft or vehicle operates very close to a surface.
Air pressure builds between the wing and ground, creating a cushion that makes flight more efficient.
Pilots experience it during landing and takeoff: The plane floated in ground effect before touching down.
In motorsport, ground effect refers to aerodynamic designs that use airflow beneath the car to create downforce, pressing the vehicle to the track for better grip through corners.
Mechanism for vertical transport
- airflowMovement of atmosphere
- boundary layerViscous region near walls
- air cushionGas-filled protective layer
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
wingspan · chord · angle of attack · stall speed · takeoff · landing · flare · float
Air pressing vehicle earthward
- diffuserDevice that scatters evenly
- underbodyBottom of a vehicle
- splitterSomething that separates
- skirtWaist-hung lower garment
ride height · venturi · tunnels · floor · rake · seal · plank · bargeboard
Waist-hung lower garment
- plenumComplete legislative body
- amphibiousOperating on land and water
- hoverRemain suspended midair
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
ACV · hoverport · payload · overwater · marshland · stability
Top-tier open-wheel racing
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- porpoisingLeaping repeatedly above water
- IndyCarAmerican single-seat racing series
- sportscarHigh-performance two-seater vehicle
prototype · Le Mans · performance · lap time · qualifying · setup
lift
Mechanism for vertical transport
- airflowMovement of atmosphere
- boundary layerViscous region near walls
- air cushionGas-filled protective layer
altitude · wingspan · chord · angle of attack · stall speed · takeoff · landing · flare · float · runway
downforce
Air pressing vehicle earthward
skirt · ride height · venturi · tunnels · floor · rake · seal · plank · bargeboard · traction
skirt
Waist-hung lower garment
- plenumComplete legislative body
- amphibiousOperating on land and water
- hoverRemain suspended midair
propulsion · ACV · hoverport · payload · overwater · marshland · stability
Formula One
Top-tier open-wheel racing
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- porpoisingLeaping repeatedly above water
- IndyCarAmerican single-seat racing series
sportscar · prototype · Le Mans · performance · lap time · qualifying · setup
- flight simulationcockpit, flight controls, flight simulator, joystick, landing
- projectile physicstrajectory, projectile motion, launch angle, velocity, gravity
- aerodynamicsairflow, lift, drag, drag coefficient, turbulence
- helicopter termshover, hovering, rotor, rotors, tail rotor
- vehicle dynamicsacceleration, handling, steering, traction, braking
- hovercrafthovercraft, ACV
effect, ground, background, underground, grounded, groundwork, grounding, groundless, foreground