Re: Misconceptions: Physics of Flight

[Lois Breur Krause <krause@CLEMSON.EDU>]

I've been lurking for a short while, so this is my first venture into the fray.
When I took physics a LONG time ago, principles of flight weren't included.
My dad designed airplanes for Curtis Wright during WW2, and until he
retired, and HE told me that it was the angles at the leading edge of the
wing, causing the air flowing under to go straight under, and the air on
top shooting upwards, causing a lower pressure above the wing than below.
(i was probably only about 5 at the time, about the same age as when he
taught me to read blueprints.) How far off is this from the basic truth?

I teach elementary education majors, so my students are math phobic, and
need the conceptual understanding sufficient to teach up to 5th grade.  My
background is mostly chemistry, and I teach all physical sciences- the only
phys. sci. these students will get.


> Hi all-
>        Romanza asks:
> ********************************************************************
> Many texts give the explanation for lift of an aerofoil --- that the
> distance travelled by air on the upper surface is greater than the lower
> surface, and hence air must travel at a faster speed in order to
> "catch-up" with air on the lower surface.
> This is quite a common misconception in explaning lift. But can someone
> enlighten me on how to give a more correct version without involving
> technical details like circulation, Joukouski Theorem etc.
> Thanks.
>
> romanza
> *******************************
>        Since there is a pressure difference that supports the airfoil,
> and since
> the Bernoulli effect is very accurate (especially at low Mach numbers), why is
> this a misconception (limited to your precise statement)?
>                                        Regards,
>                                                Jack
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Dr. Lois Breur Krause
Department of Geological Sciences
442 Brackett Hall
Clemson University
Clemson SC  29634

teaching chemistry, physics, astronomy and geology to elementary education
majors.

How We Learn and Why We Don't: Student Survival Guide,
available from International Thompson Publishing, ISBN 0324-011970

http://home.earthlink.net/~breurkrause

krause@clemson.edu