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Elliptical Wing
Answers

  1. State the lengths of the major and minor axes of the elliptical wing Major axis = 11.2m; minor axis = 2.56m.
  2. Use this information to write an equation of the ellipse (in standard form, assuming a center at {0,0}). ( x / 5.6 )2 + ( y / 1.28 )2 = 1.
     
  3. Sketch the ellipse on x, y axes with the center of the ellipse at the origin. Label the coordinates of the extremities of the major axis (wing tips) and minor axis.
  4. How is the minor axis related to chord length? The minor axis is equal to the maximum wing chord length = 2.56 m.
  5. Is the chord length constant? No, it varies decreasing to zero at the wing tips.
  6. What is the chord length 1 m from the ellipse's wing's center? 2.52m.
    2.8 m from the center? 2.22m.
    5 m from the center? 1.15m.
  7. Using the chord length 2.8 m from the center, compute an aspect ratio. 5.05.

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Curator:
Tom.Benson@grc.nasa.gov
Responsible Official: Kathy.Zona@grc.nasa.gov