WHY? But how do these pressures of air move a boat forward? At sea level air pressure is 2,116 pounds per square foot. When the air flow on the leeward side of the sail is increased, the air pressure decreases. Each point of the sail has different pressures working on it. The strongest force is at chord depth, where the curve of the sail is the deepest. This is where air flows fastest and pressure drops most. Force weakens as it moves to the rear and separates. The direction of these forces changes also. At every point in the sail the force is perpendicular to the sail's surface. The strong forces in the forward part of the sail are also in the most forward direction. In the middle of the sail the force changes to a sideways, or heeling, direction. In the rear part of the sail the force grows still weaker as wind speed decreases, and causes backward or drag direction. ASSESSMENT: Can the student communicate what they observed?

Student is able to communicate how the sails of the ship are affected by the wind, utilizing the principles of Bernoulli along with the angle of attack. Student is able to communicate most of the reasons how the sails of the ship are affected by the wind, utilizing the principles of Bernoulli along with the angle of attack. Student is able to communicate some of the reasons how the sails of the ship are affected by the wind, utilizing the principles of Bernoulli along with the angle of attack. Student is able to communicate one of the reasons how the sails of the ship are affected by the wind, utilizing the principles of Bernoulli along with the angle of attack.

Web Hosting Provided By The National Business Aviation Association.

Explore Space ... Not Drugs!
Hear what astronauts have to say about staying drug-free.
Last modified: Tue Aug 26 14:57:54 PDT 1997

Copyright © 1997 by Cislunar Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved.