Did You Catch My Drift?

Subject Area: Physical Science

Grade Level: 8-10

National Standards:

• Science as Inquiry:
  • Understandings about scientific inquiry.
  • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
• Physical Science: Motions and forces.
• Science and Technology:
  • Abilities of technological design.
  • Understandings about science and technology.

Objectives:

Students will, through the use of the FoilSim interactive software package, become familiar with the way in which the flow of air across or around an object affects its ability to lift, spin, and curve. After reading the explanation given below, use FoilSim Baseball version (click on Play Ball) to become familiar with the concepts.

FoilSim is an interactive simulation software package that determines the airflow around various shapes of airfoils. As you change the parameters of 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 NASA Glenn Research Center to illustrate an example of their research.

Macintosh or MS-Windows 3.x, 95, or NT versions of FoilSim are available for downloading off the World Wide Web at FoilSim Download.

Shown below is a screen shot from the program showing the 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:

1. Click the mouse pointer on the arrows at the ends of the slider.
2. Click the mouse pointer anywhere between the slider and the arrow.
3. 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.

To begin the problem, click on Did You Catch My Drift? Activity.

Assessment:

Working alone or in pairs, write an explanation for the advice that the catcher gave to the pitcher. Give any mathematical and graphical evidence that supports your answer.

Evaluation:

Each student or pair of students will be able to use FoilSim to demonstrate that the answer they gave in writing will accomplish the task needed (strike out the batter.)

Submitted by: Lorri Turner, Monticello Middle School, Cleveland Heights, Ohio.