Re: [Phys-l] Wind Powered Vehicle speeds downwind

[Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

*Hmmm...
The physorg commentary mentioned this:
"...the car reached a top speed of more than 2.85 times faster than the
wind blowing at the time (13.5 mph)... "*

Actually no.    I think the claim is a measured top downwind speed of 
windspeed X 2.85
NOT as the text here seems to imply, a downwind speed of  windspeed  X 
(1 + 2.85).

But this is just sloppy English, I expect.

Brian W

Jeff Radtke wrote:
> Very interesting.  Thanks for posting!
>
> Explanation on the original site was somewhat cryptic, but there is a 
> physics related blog discussion here:
>
> http://www.physorg.com/news194851568.html
>
> Jeff Radtke
> Supersaturated Environments
> http://www.cloudchambers.com
>
> Quoting Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>:
>
> > An object that apparently excites physicists' emotions...a wind yacht
> > that goes downwind at
> > wind speed X 2+
> >
> > http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/06/downwind-faster-than-the-wind/
> >
> > (Which reminds me - there's a boat that can sail directly upwind - I
> > think THAT one
> > can go faster than the wind too....)
> >
> > Brian W