|
FoilSim
Wing Specifications
Subject Areas:
Physical Science, General Math
Grade Level: 9
National Standards:
Science
- Demonstrate an
understanding of scientific inquiry.
- Demonstrate an
understanding of the relationship among motions and forces.
Mathematics
- Use tables and
graphs as tools to interpret expressions, equations, and inequalities.
Technology
- Research Tools
- Use content-specific tools, software and simulations (e.g., environmental
probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools)
to support learning and research.
- Problem-Solving
and Decision-Making Tools - Routinely and efficiently use on-line
information resources to meet needs for collaboration, research, publications,
communications, and productivity.
Objectives:
After reading
the explanation given below, use FoilSim to complete the activity to fulfill
the specifications of a given airfoil (wing) and plot and interpret graphs.
FoilSim is an interactive
simulation software package that examines the airflow around various shapes
of airfoils. As you change parameters such as airspeed, altitude, angle
of attack, thickness and curvature of the airfoil, and size of the wing
area, the software calculates the lift. The package was created at the NASA
Glenn Research Center.
FoilSim II is a Java applet program that executes inside the browser of your computer.
It is available on the World Wide Web at
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/foil2.html.
You can also
download the program to run off-line.
Shown below is a screen
shot from the program's controls and displays. You may change the values
of the variables by using the slider or the input box on the left of the
slider.
To use the slider:
- Click the mouse
pointer on the arrows at the ends of the slider.
- Click the mouse
pointer anywhere between the slider and the arrow.
- Drag the slider
with the mouse.
To use the input
box:
Simply select the
value in the input box, key in the new value, and press Enter or Tab when
finished. The button on the slider will move corresponding to the value
typed in the box.
Assessment:
You, or you
and your partner(s), will be evaluated on the feasibility or accuracy
of your answers.
Evaluation:
You will
be able to use FoilSim to complete the activity, including creating plots
and interpreting graphs, to demonstrate your ability to understand the
relationships among an airfoil's lift and the variables on which it depends.
Submitted by:
Monroe Kennedy,
Jr., Ph.D., Shaker Heights High School, Shaker Heights, Ohio
|