|
Basic Airplane Balance--The Wright Brothers'
Bicycle Test
Answers
|
|
Access this site to simulate
the bicycle wheel balance test (http://firstflight.open.ac.uk/).
If necessary, download the Shockwave program to run the simulation.
Go to Flyers then Wright Brothers. Click on movie +
simulation, which will take you to a page called The Bicycle
Balance. Click image + simulation to begin the bicycle
wheel balance test. By running the simulation, determine at which
angle of attack the wing and the flat plate balance.
- Circle the results of the test of each angle of attack for the
Lilienthal Wing and for the Flat Plate.
Angle
|
Lilienthal Wing
|
Flat Plate
|
4
|
counterclockwise
|
counterclockwise
|
5
|
counterclockwise
|
counterclockwise
|
6
|
counterclockwise
|
counterclockwise
|
8
|
counterclockwise
|
counterclockwise
|
10
|
counterclockwise
|
counterclockwise
|
12
|
counterclockwise
|
counterclockwise
|
14
|
counterclockwise
|
counterclockwise
|
16
|
counterclockwise
|
counterclockwise
|
18
|
balanced
|
counterclockwise
|
20
|
clockwise
|
counterclockwise
|
22
|
clockwise
|
counterclockwise
|
24
|
clockwise
|
balanced
|
26
|
clockwise
|
clockwise
|
- At which angle did the Litienthal wing balance?
18
- At which angle did the flat plate
balance? 24
- What conclusions can you draw about the angle and shape of the
objects in relation to balance?
Answers will vary.
|