Angle of attack

Angle of attack (lpha, Greek alpha) is a term used in aerodynamics to describe the angle between the wing's chord and the direction of the relative wind, effectively the direction in which the aircraft is currently moving. The amount of lift generated by a wing is directly related to the angle of attack, with greater angles generating more lift (and more drag as it increases the frontal area). This remains true up to the stall point, where lift starts to decrease again because of airflow separation. Planes flying at high angles of attack can suddenly enter a stall if, for example, a strong wind gust changes the direction of the relative wind, an effect that is seen primarily at low speeds.

Sailing

In sailing, the angle of attack is the angle between a sail and the direction of the wind. The physical principles involved are the same as for aircraft. See points of sail

Related Topics:
Sailing - Points of sail

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