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Index

Intro

Activity

Worksheet

Lift/Velocity Relationship Answers
  1. Find "k" as above using the Spirit of St. Louis maximum velocity and the takeoff weight less 20 kg (an arbitrary amount of fuel to attain maximum velocity). Once you have determined k, write an equation for velocity as a function of lift (as in our example). V= ( L / 0.038 ) 0.5.

  2. Using a function grapher, graph this equation (default window settings are acceptable). Do you recognize the graph? It is half of a parabola opening to the right.

  3. Now key in the following RANGE window values: xmin=1000, xmax=2500, xscl=100, ymin=120, ymax=220, yscl=10, and graph the equation. Because the domain and range are limited to real Spirit of St. Louis values, the curvature of the parabola segment is limited.
    No answer.

  4. Return to the equation and solve it for lift. L= 0.038 V2. Graph the equation. Then exchange the x and y values in the RANGE window; that is, key in: xmin=120, xmax=220, xscl=10, ymin=1000, ymax=2500, yscl=100, and graph. The parabola segment now opens upwards, instead of to the side.