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AerodynamicsQuestion 420 of 934

What does the high-pressure area on the bottom of a wing do at the wing tip?

  1. It flows down and away from the wing behind the tip
  2. It stays under the wing and adds lift at the tip
  3. It moves forward along the leading edge to the nose
  4. It flows around the tip to the upper surface
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Correct answer: It flows around the tip to the upper surface

This flow creates a rotating flow called a tip vortex, which reduces lift near the tip.

Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 4: Principles of Flight — A Third Dimension, page 96

Practice aerodynamics

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026