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Upside Down Wings

Activity

Aeronautics Logo
If so instructed by your teacher, print out a worksheet page for these problems.

Explanation

From the FoilSim program, you have learned that there are many factors that affect lift . Now look at two of these properties: the Shape and the Size of the airfoil. Use the Probe of FoilSim to create a data table that is a map of the flow of air over and under an airfoil as the camber and area are being adjusted. Then generate a multiple line graph that represents the data collected. Using this data, hypothesize airflow graphs for objects as they are elongated from a sphere to an airfoil shape.

Step 1.

Become familiar with the use of the FoilSim Probe. You can display either local velocity or pressure by pushing the probe buttons. Use the sliders beside and below the gauge to move the probe. Be careful when reading the gauge because the answer is given in Scientific Notation.

 

Step 2.

Set the following set of parameters and complete the data tables for each of the independent runs of the airfoil. (Numbers 1, 2, and 3)

 PARAMETERS FOR THE 3 DIFFERENT SHAPED AIRFOILS

First
Second
Third
Airspeed (mph)
100
100
100
Altitude (feet)
0
0
0
Angle (degrees)
0
0
0
Thickness
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
Camber
0
25.0%
-25.0%
Area (sq.ft.)
1.0
10
100

Step 3.

Use the probe to collect data on the top and the bottom of each airfoil. Try to keep the probe close to the surface of the airfoil and also keep it at the same distance from the front of the airfoil, preferably near the center of the shape.

WIND SPEED AND AIR PRESSURE DATA FOR PARAMETERS 1, 2, AND 3

First
Second
Third
Airspeed A Top




Pressure A Top




Airspeed B Top




Pressure B Top




Airspeed C Top




Pressure C Top




Airspeed A Bottom




Pressure A Bottom




Airspeed B Bottom




Pressure B Bottom




Airspeed C Bottom




Pressure C Bottom




Step 4.

Plot the Airspeed vs. the Pressure for each of the three parameter settings for the different shaped airfoils.

Step 5.

Answer the following questions:

a) What was the relationship between the different shapes of airfoils?

b) Is there a relationship between airspeed and pressure?

c) Comment on the answers obtained for different values of camber. What happens at -25%?


Related Pages:
Standards
Worksheet
Lesson Index
Aerodynamics Index

 

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Editor: Tom Benson
NASA Official: Tom Benson
Last Updated: Thu, May 13 02:38:38 PM EDT 2021

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