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Qualitative
Testing Activity
If so instructed by your teacher, print out a worksheet page
for these problems.
Overview
In this activity,
you will be using FoilSim to prepare computer-generated models of various
wing designs. After you have generated certain wing designs, you will
then create real models from balsa wood (or some other appropriate alternative).
You will qualitatively test the effectiveness of these models and the
predictions by attaching them to a balance
on a bicycle and observing the effective lift. You will then report
methods and results of your experiment.
Materials
FoilSim.
Balsa wood, glue,
and tissue paper to create wing models.
A bicycle modified
that will test your wing models.
Procedure
- Gather information
on flat and Lilienthal
wings with which the Wright
Brothers worked. Briefly list the information you discover, and
tell how this will affect your models.
- Set values in FoilSim
to approximate two different wing designs, flat and Lilienthal. The
area should be restricted to 1 square foot, and the elevation should
be set at about 800 to 850 feet. Set the values in such a way that both
wings seem to obtain the same lift value. Record this value on the qualitative
worksheet, along with the angle at which the wing design is located.
- Using balsa wood,
create wing models based upon your computer generated models.
- Attach the models
to the modified bicycle, making sure to keep the same angle as the model
in the FoilSim simulation. As the driver pulls forward, record your
observations.
- Design a report,
either written or a presentation, that explains your experimenting procedures,
your results, and the reasons for your results.
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