What happens to lift when the angle of attack exceeds the critical angle?

When the angle of attack exceeds the critical angle, the airflow over the wing starts to separate from the surface, which leads to a loss of lift. This phenomenon is known as stall. As the angle of attack increases beyond this critical limit, lift does not continue to increase; instead, it begins to decrease rapidly.

This occurs because the wing's ability to generate lift is contingent upon maintaining smooth airflow over its upper surface. Once the critical angle is surpassed, the airflow can no longer stay attached, resulting in turbulent flow and a drastic reduction in lift. Thus, as the stall sets in, the lift drops sharply, leading to potential loss of control of the aircraft if corrective actions are not taken. This understanding of the relationship between angle of attack and lift is fundamental in aerodynamics and crucial for safe aircraft operation.