What term describes an airfoil with camber in its geometry?

• A. Cambered
• B. Camberless
• C. Symmetric
• D. Flat

Answer: (A)

Camber is the curvature of the airfoil’s mean line relative to the chord. When an airfoil has camber, its mean line is curved instead of straight, so the shape is described as cambered. This curvature creates an asymmetry between the upper and lower surfaces, which affects the pressure distribution and lift generated at a given angle of attack. In contrast, a symmetric (camberless) airfoil has zero camber with a straight mean line, and a flat description implies a flat plate with essentially no camber. So the airfoil that has curvature in its geometry is called cambered.