As angle of attack increases on a typical wing, the center of pressure generally:

As angle of attack increases on a typical wing, the center of pressure generally:

• A. Remains fixed
• B. Moves forward
• C. Moves aft
• D. Becomes undefined

Answer: (B)

As the angle of attack increases, the pressure distribution over the wing changes in such a way that the resultant aerodynamic force shifts forward along the chord. More lift is produced by the forward portion of the wing because the upper-surface suction and lower-surface pressure become more effective there as the wing tilts higher. This causes the center of pressure—the single point where the total aerodynamic force can be considered to act—to move toward the leading edge as lift rises. Near stall, the flow becomes disturbed and the CP behavior can become less predictable, but the general trend for a typical wing is a forward shift with increasing angle of attack.

As the angle of attack increases, the pressure distribution over the wing changes in such a way that the resultant aerodynamic force shifts forward along the chord. More lift is produced by the forward portion of the wing because the upper-surface suction and lower-surface pressure become more effective there as the wing tilts higher. This causes the center of pressure—the single point where the total aerodynamic force can be considered to act—to move toward the leading edge as lift rises. Near stall, the flow becomes disturbed and the CP behavior can become less predictable, but the general trend for a typical wing is a forward shift with increasing angle of attack.