Definition
The curvature of the lower surface of an airfoil, measured from the leading edge to the trailing edge. On most wings the lower camber is flatter than the upper camber, and the difference between the two is what causes air to travel at different speeds over and under the wing, producing lift.
Plain English
The shape of the bottom side of the wing, from front to back. It is usually flatter than the top side.
Context Anchor
Seen in airfoil diagrams, especially when learning how wing shape relates to lift.
Derivation
Camber comes from the Latin 'camurus', meaning 'curved' or 'arched'. 'Lower' simply specifies which surface of the wing is being described. So 'lower camber' literally means 'the curve of the bottom surface'.
Why Pilots Care
Affects how much lift the wing produces at low angles of attack and influences stall behavior.
Intuition Check
Lower camber does not mean the wing is lower on the airplane. It means the curved shape of the bottom side of the wing cross-section.
Example Sentence 1
The lower camber of the training aircraft's wing is nearly flat, while the upper camber is more pronounced.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots review lower camber when comparing different wing designs for training aircraft.