[Rhodes22-list] Dam it - Gregg you are too good - try a sailing question

[Arthur H. Czerwonky]

Ed,

You are the original drumbeat on researching a topic thoroughly - what a contradiction to see this question.  I'd suggest you look up 'airfoil' and 'wing' on the web and you will get a good primer on the topic.

An airfoil(wing), whatever reasonable cross section you have, will create lift when put into a fluid - water, air, etc. Call lift a force caused by differential in air pressure which will act to move the airfoil toward the lesser pressure zone.  Just put your arm out the window of your car.  rotate your hand and you change 'angle of attack', affecting the lift you create.  This airfoil surface can even be flat, but depends on the fluid surrounding it for lift.  A glider, with the most effective airfoil for its application, still depends on the air fluid condition for lift - so it must ride to higher reaches on top of thermals.  We lived near Heber City, sailplane haven, which has abundant thermals generated in the Uinta Range of Utah.  I used the thermals frequently so I could go directly from Provo to Vail at 15K.

Point your hand upward and you simulate the action of the sail - just a vertical wing.  Maybe this helps.

Art

-----Original Message-----
>From: Tootle <ekroposki at charter.net>
>Sent: Jul 17, 2007 7:46 AM
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Dam it - Gregg you are too good - try a sailing	question
>
>
>Sailboats have been around a long time.  We are told they work by sail shape
>and the concept of lift.  Bernoulli is somehow involved. The Wright brothers
>used the first wind tunnel to compute their wing shapes.  We are told that
>sails are vertical wings.  Ask the serious racers, like Peter T to tell the
>importance of sail shape.  
>
>Now explain how a paper airplane with flat wings flies.  Keep in mind that a
>good paper airplane does not just drop but can soar.
>
>Take your time in answering; I do not expect to get to back on line until
>this evening.
>
>Ed K
>Greenville, SC, USA
>Attachment:
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