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Basic Airplane Balance--The Wright Brothers' Bicycle Test

Worksheet

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.

1. 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	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   5	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   6	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   8	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   10	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   12	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   14	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   16	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   18	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   20	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   22	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   24	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise
   26	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise	clockwise - balanced- counterclockwise

2. At which angle did the Litienthal wing balance? ____________________________

    

3. At which angle did the flat plate balance? _________________________________

    

4. What conclusions can you draw about the angle and shape of the objects in relation to balance?