NASA Logo - Web Link to NASA.gov Vertical line

+ Text Only Site
+ Non-Flash Version
+ Contact Glenn

Go
ABOUT NASA NEWS AND EVENTS MULTIMEDIA MISSIONS MyNASA WORK FOR NASA
NASA Meatball Image

Aerodynamics Index

Glenn
Research
Center

Here is a list of all the topics available from the Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics (BGA) site. Clicking on the title will deliver a page with a slide and a scientific explanation of the contents. Click on the word "Animated" for the animated version of selected pages. If the number and variety of pages seems too intimidating, consider taking one of our Guided Tours through the web site.

Another method for reaching students, teachers and lifelong learners is the use of Distance Learning. While preparing presentations for students, many Power Point files have been developed for the Digital Learning Network using information from the BGA. Another group of Power Point presentations has been prepared concerning the exploration of space. Students and teachers are encouraged to copy the Power Point files to their own computers and to modify them as desired for their own presentations. We have also created a home page for all of our movies featuring Wilbur and Orville Wright.

* Animation files can be large (average 350K bytes)
** Java Applet

Label for Problem Sets
NASA Glenn History and Missions Activities
FoilSim Activities
Basic Aerodynamics Activities
Aerospace Lesson Plans
Cross-Word Puzzle Activity
Airplane Gallery

Label for Science Fundamentals
Three Phases of Matter
Newton's Laws of Motion ..Movie
Newton's First Law - Inertia
Newton's Second Law - Force
Newton's Third Law - Action & Reaction
Torques (Moments)
Forces and Torques
Equilibrium - 2 Forces
Equilibrium - 3 Forces
Equilibrium - 2 Torques

Label for Math Fundamentals
Functions
Rectangular and Polar Coordinates
Area
Volume
Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration
Angular Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration
Scalars and Vectors
Comparing Two Scalars - Ratio
Comparing Two Vectors
Vector Addition
Vector Components
Trigonometry
Sine-Cosine-Tangent
Ratios in Triangles
Pythagorean Theorem..Interactive**

Label for Analysis
Conservation of Mass
Conservation of Momentum
Conservation of Energy
Euler Equations
Bernoulli's Equation
Navier-Stokes Equations
Lift of Rotating Cylinder ..Interactive**
Ideal Lift on Spinning Ball ..Interactive**
Ideal Flow Around Spinning Ball ..Interactive**
Conformal Mapping... Interactive **

Label for Static Gases
Animated Gas Lab...Animated
Gas Properties Definitions
Equation of State (Ideal Gas)
Specific Heats - cp and cv
Boyle's Law...Animated
Charles and Gay-Lussac's Law...Animated
Specific Volume
Kinetic Theory of Gases

Label for Atmosphere
Interactive Atmosphere Simulator
The Atmosphere
Air Properties Definitions
Air Pressure
Air Temperature
Air Density
Air Viscosity ..Interactive**
Earth Model - Imperial Units
Earth Model - Metric Units
Mars Model - Imperial Units
Mars Model - Metric Units
Relative Velocity - Ground Reference .. Interactive**
Relative Velocity - Aircraft Reference
Cross Winds
Updrafts and Downdrafts
Lightning Strike

Label for Speed Regimes
SoundWave Interactive Simulator
Compressible Aerodynamics
Mach Number..Interactive**
Speed of Sound ..Interactive**
Subsonic
Transonic
Supersonic
High Supersonic
Hypersonic
Re-Entry
Mach Calculator

Label for Object Motion
DropSim Interactive Simulator
Basic Object Motion
Object Motion Due to a Side Force
Ballistic Flight..Interactive**
Falling Objects - Newton's First Law
Motion of Free Falling Object
Free Fall without Air Resistance
Falling Object with Air Resistance
Terminal Velocity..Interactive**
Flight with Drag..Interactive**
Ballisitic Flight Calculator

Label for Aircraft Motion
RangeGames Interactive Simulator
Simplified Aircraft Motion
Aircraft Motion - Newton's First Law
Aircraft Motion - Newton's Second Law
Aircraft Translations
Aircraft Rotations
Roll..Movie..Animated
Pitch..Movie..Animated
Yaw..Movie..Animated
Banking Turns
Range - Constant Velocity
Maximum Flight Time
Range Summary

Vertical line
Vertical line
Vertical line
Vertical line

Label for Airplane Parts
Airplane Parts Definitions
Fuselage
Turbine Engines
Wing Geometry Definitions ..Interactive**
Winglets
Elevator..Movie..Interactive**
Aileron..Movie..Interactive**
Rudder..Movie..Interactive**
Spoilers ..Interactive**
Flaps and Slats ..Interactive**
Stabilator ..Interactive**
Pitot-Static Tube - Speedometer

Label for Aircraft Forces
Four Forces on an Airplane ..Movie
What is Weight? ..Movie
What is Lift? ..Movie
What is Drag? ..Movie
What is Thrust? ..Movie
Lift to Drag Ratio
Thrust to Weight Ratio
Excess Thrust (Thrust - Drag)
Forces in a Climb
Vectored Thrust
Airplane Cruise - Balanced Forces
Trimmed Aircraft
Momentum Effects
Density Effects ..Interactive**
Velocity Effects ..Interactive**

Label for Aerodynamics
Aerodynamic Forces
Dynamic Pressure
Center of Pressure - cp
Aerodynamic Center
Similarity Parameters ..Interactive**
Reynolds Number..Interactive**
Boundary Layer
Mass Flow Rate
Definition of Streamlines

Label for Thrust
Beginner's Guide to Propulsion
EngineSim Interactive Simulator
Thrust Equation

Label for Weight
Determining Aircraft Weight
Center of Gravity - cg ..Movie
Aircraft Center of Gravity - cg
Weight Equation ..Movie

Label for Lift
FoilSim III Interactive Simulator
Bernoulli and Newton
Objects with Lift ..Interactive**
Lift from Flow Turning ..Interactive**
Shed Vorticity
Equal Transit Theory ..Interactive**
Skipping Stone Theory ..Interactive**
Half Venturi Theory ..Interactive**
Factors That Affect Lift
Shape Effects on Lift ..Interactive**
Size Effects on Lift ..Interactive**
Inclination Effects on Lift ..Interactive**
Downwash Effects on Lift
Lift Equation..Movie
Lift Coefficient

Label for Drag
Factors That Affect Drag
Shape Effects on Drag
Drag on a Sphere...Animated
Size Effects on Drag
Inclination Effects on Drag
Drag Measurement
Induced Drag Coefficient
Drag Equation..Movie
Drag Coefficient

Label for Gliders
Gliders
Paper Airplanes..Plans
Fun with Gliders
Space Shuttle as a Glider
Three Forces on a Glider
Glide Angle
Vector Balance of Forces - Glider
Glider Trajectory Problem

Label for Model Rockets
Beginner's Guide to Model Rockets
RocketModeler Interactive Simulator

Label for Kites
Beginner's Guide to Kites
KiteModeler Interactive Simulator

Label for Wind Tunnel
Beginner's Guide to Wind Tunnels
TunnelSim Interactive Simulator

Label for Sports
Baseball Home Page
HitModeler Interactive Simulator
HitModeler Weather Interactive Simulator
CurveBall Student Interactive Simulator
CurveBall Expert Interactive Simulator
Soccer Home Page
SoccerNASA Interactive Simulator

Label for Miscalaneous Topics
Wright Brothers Aircraft
Let's be Specific
Venus Airfoil


Guided Tour
  • Button to Display Previous Page FoilSim - BGA Talk: Button to Display Next Page

Navigation..


Button to Display Propulsion Index Button to Display Hi Speed Aero Index Button to Display Model Rocket Index Button to Display Kite Index Button to Display Hypersonic Aero Index Button to Display Wind Tunnel Index Button to Display Wright Brothers Index
Beginner's Guide Home Page
Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics
Free Software
Undergraduate Software

 

     First Gov Image


+ Inspector General Hotline
+ Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant to the No Fear Act
+ Budgets, Strategic Plans and Accountability Reports
+ Freedom of Information Act
+ The President's Management Agenda
+ NASA Privacy Statement, Disclaimer,
and Accessibility Certification

 

NASA Logo   
Editor: Nancy Hall
NASA Official: Nancy Hall
Last Updated: May 13 2021

+ Contact Glenn