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A fin is a surface used to produce lift
Lift (force)

In the context of a fluid flow relative to a body, the lift force is the Vector #Vector components of the aerodynamic force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction....
 and thrust
Thrust

Thrust is a reaction force described quantitatively by Isaac Newton's Newton's laws of motion. When a system expels or acceleration mass in one direction the accelerated mass will cause a proportional but opposite force on that system....
 or to steer while traveling in water
Water

Water is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or States of matter, but the substance also has a solid state, ice, and a gaseous state, water vapor or steam....
, air, or other fluid
Fluid

A fluid is defined as a substance that continually deforms under an applied shear stress. All liquids and all gases are fluids. Fluids are a subset of the Phase and include liquids, gas, Plasma physics and, to some extent, plasticity ....
 media. The first use of the word was for the limbs
Fish anatomy

The anatomy of fish is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs light more than air does....
 of fish
Fish

A fish is any marine biology vertebrate animal that is typically ectothermic , covered with scale , and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins....
, but has been extended to include other animal limbs and man-made devices.

The foremost use of fins is to ensure the directional stability of an object moving through a fluid such as water or air and may be seen in the use of fletching
Fletching

Remember kidsPDAFletching is the ancient art of aerodynamically stabilizing arrows from materials such as feathers. The English-language surname "Fletcher" derives from this term, meaning "one who fletches." It is sometimes generally used for an arrow-maker, not only for someone restricted to this step of the process....
 on arrows and fins at the rear of some missile
Missile

A guided missile is a self-propelled projectile used as a weapon. Missiles are typically propelled by rockets or jet engines. Missiles generally have one or more explosive warheads, although other weapon types may also be used....
s, rocket
Rocket

A rocket or rocket vehicle is a missile, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust by the Reaction of the rocket to the ejection of fast moving fluid exhaust from a rocket engine....
s, self-propelled torpedo
Torpedo

Note: Prior to 1900, in naval usage "torpedo" could also refer to what today is called a naval mine. For that usage, see naval mine.The modern torpedo is a self-propelled explosive projectile weapon, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater toward a target, and designed to detonate on contact or in proximity t...
es, and kinetic energy penetrators.






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A fin is a surface used to produce lift
Lift (force)

In the context of a fluid flow relative to a body, the lift force is the Vector #Vector components of the aerodynamic force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction....
 and thrust
Thrust

Thrust is a reaction force described quantitatively by Isaac Newton's Newton's laws of motion. When a system expels or acceleration mass in one direction the accelerated mass will cause a proportional but opposite force on that system....
 or to steer while traveling in water
Water

Water is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or States of matter, but the substance also has a solid state, ice, and a gaseous state, water vapor or steam....
, air, or other fluid
Fluid

A fluid is defined as a substance that continually deforms under an applied shear stress. All liquids and all gases are fluids. Fluids are a subset of the Phase and include liquids, gas, Plasma physics and, to some extent, plasticity ....
 media. The first use of the word was for the limbs
Fish anatomy

The anatomy of fish is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs light more than air does....
 of fish
Fish

A fish is any marine biology vertebrate animal that is typically ectothermic , covered with scale , and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins....
, but has been extended to include other animal limbs and man-made devices.

The foremost use of fins is to ensure the directional stability of an object moving through a fluid such as water or air and may be seen in the use of fletching
Fletching

Remember kidsPDAFletching is the ancient art of aerodynamically stabilizing arrows from materials such as feathers. The English-language surname "Fletcher" derives from this term, meaning "one who fletches." It is sometimes generally used for an arrow-maker, not only for someone restricted to this step of the process....
 on arrows and fins at the rear of some missile
Missile

A guided missile is a self-propelled projectile used as a weapon. Missiles are typically propelled by rockets or jet engines. Missiles generally have one or more explosive warheads, although other weapon types may also be used....
s, rocket
Rocket

A rocket or rocket vehicle is a missile, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust by the Reaction of the rocket to the ejection of fast moving fluid exhaust from a rocket engine....
s, self-propelled torpedo
Torpedo

Note: Prior to 1900, in naval usage "torpedo" could also refer to what today is called a naval mine. For that usage, see naval mine.The modern torpedo is a self-propelled explosive projectile weapon, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater toward a target, and designed to detonate on contact or in proximity t...
es, and kinetic energy penetrators. They are typically "planar" (shaped like small wings), although grid fin
Grid fin

Grid fins are a type of flight control surfaces used on missiles and bombs in place of more conventional control surfaces, such as planar fins....
s are sometimes used in specialized cases.

Moving fins may be used to propel an object through lateral thrust (see mechanics
Mechanics

Mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behaviour of physical body when subjected to forces or Displacement , and the subsequent effect of the bodies on their environment....
).

Examples of fin use:
  • Propeller
    Propeller

    A propeller is a type of fan which transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. It can be used to drive an fixed-wing aircraft, ship, or the fluid within a pump....
    s usually have a number of fins that work to translate torquing force to lateral thrust, thus propelling a ship
    Ship

    A ship is a large watercraft that floats on water. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size. Ships may be found on lakes, seas, and rivers and they allow for a variety of activities, such as the ferry or cargo ships, fishing, cruise ship, Coast guard, and warship....
    . These are also called blades. In the case of high power application it is important to avoid cavitation
    Cavitation

    Cavitation is defined as the phenomenon of formation of vapour bubbles of a flowing liquid in a region where the pressure of the liquid falls below its vapour pressure....
    , caused by excessive negative pressure, as this can cause noise, a loss of power, and damage to the propeller.
  • For scuba
    Scuba diving

    SCUBA diving is Underwater diving, or taking part in another activity, while using a scuba set. By carrying a source of breathing gas , the scuba diver is able to stay underwater longer than with the simple breath-holding techniques used in snorkeling and free-diving, and is not hindered by air lines to a remote air source....
     divers' fins, see swimfin
    Swimfin

    Swimfins, swim fins, shinfin fins or flippers are worn on the foot or leg and made from finlike rubber or plastic, to aid movement through the water in Water sport activities such as swimming, bodyboarding, bodysurfing, kneeboarding , riverboarding, and various types of underwater diving....
    .
  • In surfing
    Surfing

    Surfing refers to a person or boat riding down a wave and thereby gathering speed from the downward movement. Most commonly, the term is used for a surface water sports in which the person surfing is carried along the face of a breaking ocean surface wave standing on a surfboard....
    , a skeg
    Skeg

    A skeg is a sternward extension of the keel of boats and ships which have a rudder mounted on the centre line. The term also applies to the lowest point on an Outboard motor or the outdrive of an sterndrive....
     is a stabilizing fin located at the rear of the surfboard
    Surfboard

    Surfboards are elongated platforms used in the sport of surfing. They are relatively light, but strong enough to support an individual standing on them while riding a Ocean surface wave....
    . A skeg has the effect of keeping the board moving forward in a controlled manner. The surfboard fin has undergone numerous phases of development.
  • Constructions of the same purpose as fins (producing thrust, but working in gaseous media) instead are usually called wing
    Wing

    A wing is a surface used to produce Lift for flight through the Earth's atmosphere or another gaseous or fluid medium. The wing shape is usually an airfoil....
    s or stabilizer
    Stabilizer (aircraft)

    For aircraft, the horizontal stabilizer or tailplane is a fixed or adjustable surface from which an elevator may be hinged. In some aircraft models , the entire horizontal stabilizer rotates and functions as an elevator....
    s with aerodynamics
    Aerodynamics

    Aerodynamics is a branch of Dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them....
     as the governing science. The exception to this is the vertical surface of an aircraft to which the rudder
    Rudder

    A rudder is a device used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, or other conveyance that moves through a fluid . On an aircraft the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw and p-factor and is not the primary control used to turn the airplane....
     is attached - this is usually called the fin, tail fin (UK), or vertical stabilizer
    Vertical stabilizer

    The vertical stabilizers, or fins, of aircraft, missiles or bombs are typically found on the aft end of the fuselage or body, and are intended to control Yaw angle....
     (US).
  • the fin of a rocket uses pressure on both sides of the fin to create a more stable flight in a rocket