M B
September 12th 03, 12:03 AM
A heavier object (or glider) has momentum. If we shoot a suction cup dart straight up into the air,
it goes higher if the shaft is heavier, even with the exact same shape. The lighter dart decelerates faster because the ratio of momentum to drag is less. So the answer is:
sometimes the unballasted glider goes higher (if the ballasted glider is at stall speed), and sometimes the ballasted glider goes higher (due to the momentum vs. drag). Which wins depends on stall speed, difference in weight, and drag, butboth cases can clearly be true if certain numbers are
selected.P.S. Does anyone know how to keep gliderpilot.net
from squashing all the lines together when posting?
it goes higher if the shaft is heavier, even with the exact same shape. The lighter dart decelerates faster because the ratio of momentum to drag is less. So the answer is:
sometimes the unballasted glider goes higher (if the ballasted glider is at stall speed), and sometimes the ballasted glider goes higher (due to the momentum vs. drag). Which wins depends on stall speed, difference in weight, and drag, butboth cases can clearly be true if certain numbers are
selected.P.S. Does anyone know how to keep gliderpilot.net
from squashing all the lines together when posting?