camber

Definition

The curvature of an airfoil, measured as the difference between the chord line (a straight line from the leading edge to the trailing edge) and the mean camber line (a curved line drawn equidistant between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing). An airfoil with greater curvature is described as having more camber.

Plain English

How curved or arched a wing is when you look at its cross-section. A flatter wing has less camber; a more arched wing has more camber.

Context Anchor

Seen when studying how flaps change wing shape during takeoff, approach, and landing.

Derivation

From the Old French 'cambre' meaning 'curved' or 'arched,' which traces back to the Latin 'camur' meaning 'curved inward.' The word is used in many fields (roads, ship decks, car wheels) to describe a slight arch -- in aviation, it describes the arch of the wing.

Why Pilots Care

Flaps increase camber to produce more lift at lower speeds, which helps during takeoff and landing.

Grounding Statement

Picture the side view of the wing becoming more curved when the flaps go down.

Intuition Check

Camber does not mean the wing is tilted up or down. It means the wing shape itself is more or less curved.

Example Sentence 1

Extending the flaps increases the wing's camber, producing more lift at lower airspeeds.

Example Sentence 2

Greater camber from the flaps let the airplane maintain altitude while reducing speed on final approach.

Definition

The curvature of an airfoil, measured as the displacement of the mean camber line from the chord line. Upper camber refers to the curvature of the upper surface of the airfoil, and lower camber refers to the curvature of the lower surface. The amount and distribution of camber are key factors in determining the lift, drag, and stall characteristics of a wing.

Plain English

Camber is how curved a wing is. A wing isn't a flat plate -- its top and bottom surfaces are shaped with curves, and 'camber' is the word for those curves. The more curve, the more lift the wing tends to produce at a given speed, but usually with more drag too.

Context Anchor

Seen in aerodynamics, wing design, propeller blade discussions, and explanations of how flaps change a wing’s lifting shape.

Derivation

From the Old French 'cambre,' meaning 'bent' or 'curved,' which traces back to the Latin 'camur' (curved inward). The everyday meaning -- a slight upward arch, like the camber of a road -- is the same idea applied to a wing's surface.

Why Pilots Care