As the angle of attack of an airfoil increases, what happens to the center of pressure?

As the angle of attack of an airfoil increases, the center of pressure moves toward the leading edge. The center of pressure is the point where the total aerodynamic force acts on the airfoil, and its position can change with varying angles of attack due to modifications in pressure distribution over the airfoil's surface.

At low angles of attack, the airflow over the wing is smooth, and the center of pressure is generally located toward the middle of the chordline. However, as the angle of attack increases, particularly near the critical angle, the flow starts to separate from the upper surface of the airfoil. This separation alters the pressure distribution and can cause the center of pressure to move forward.

This shift towards the leading edge is due to the increased lift generated by the airfoil as the angle of attack increases, which is accompanied by a development of stall characteristics. Understanding this movement is crucial for pilots as it directly affects the aircraft's handling characteristics and stall warnings. Proper awareness of the center of pressure’s location helps in managing control inputs when flying at varying angles of attack.