Vol. 10: Origami Flying Disc

Understand Bernoulli's principle of flowing fluids and gases with a paper flyer.

By Cy Tymony

Illustrations by Tim Lillis

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Incorrect theory
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The explanation for the lift is not correct. Bernoulli's equation is true, but the longer upper surface does not explain the increased speed of air.

A wing is just deflecting air particles down (both upper and lower surfaces contribute to this), so the wing must go up.

Typical wing shape, as seen in fig 3 also, is designed to minimize the drag and turbulent airflows around it, while deflecting as much air as possible (or needed). Making one surface longer than the other is not the target.

Posted by pnu on July 23, 2007 at 07:31:10 Pacific Time

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