Which surface of an airfoil typically has more pronounced camber?

• A. The upper surface
• B. The lower surface
• C. The leading edge
• D. The trailing edge

Answer: (A)

Camber is the curvature of the airfoil relative to its straight chord, described by the mean camber line. In most cambered airfoils, the upper surface is more curved than the lower surface. That extra curvature on top causes the airflow to speed up over the top, creating lower pressure and generating lift. The bottom surface is flatter by comparison, contributing less to the camber effect. The leading and trailing edges are ends of the wing shape, not where camber is measured.