Cecily Zamora
Aerodynamics is the study of the motion of air, especially when it interacts with solid objects such as an airplane wing. The field of fluid dynamics and its subfield of gas dynamics are closely related to aerodynamics. The study of aerodynamics in the modern sense began in the 18th century, but humans have harnessed aerodynamic forces for thousands of years in inventions such as sailboats and windmills. The first law of aerodynamics, also known as Newton's third law of motion, states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This principle is essential to understanding how airplanes achieve flight.
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What You'll Learn
The study of motion of air
Aerodynamics is derived from the Ancient Greek words 'aḗr', meaning air, and 'dunamikḗ', meaning dynamics, and it is the study of the motion of air, especially when it interacts with solid objects such as aeroplane wings. It is a field of fluid dynamics and is closely related to its subfield of gas dynamics, which studies the motion of all gases.
Aerodynamics studies the flow environment and properties of the flow, including flow speed, compressibility, and viscosity. It can be divided into two main types: external aerodynamics and internal aerodynamics. External aerodynamics involves studying the flow of air around solid objects of various shapes, such as evaluating the lift and drag on an aeroplane or the shock waves that form in front of a rocket. On the other hand, internal aerodynamics focuses on the flow of air through passages in solid objects, such as the airflow through a jet engine or an air conditioning pipe.
The study of aerodynamics has a long history, with early records of fundamental concepts found in the work of Aristotle and Archimedes in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC. However, the development of a quantitative theory of airflow did not begin until the 18th century. Sir Isaac Newton, in 1726, became one of the first aerodynamicists when he developed a theory of air resistance. Following Newton, the Dutch-Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli published "Hydrodynamica" in 1738, describing the relationship between pressure, velocity, and density, now known as Bernoulli's principle, which is used to calculate aerodynamic lift.
In the late 19th century, two key problems were identified before achieving heavier-than-air flight: designing aerodynamic wings with low drag and high lift, and determining the power required for sustained flight. The Wright brothers' first powered aircraft flight in 1903 played a significant role in advancing aerodynamics, as it confirmed or disproved several existing theories. Since then, scientists like John J. Montgomery, Frederick W. Lanchester, Martin Kutta, and Nikolai Zhukovsky have contributed to our understanding of the connection between fluid flow and lift, further shaping the field of aerodynamics.
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The study of flow around solid objects
Aerodynamics is a branch of physics that deals with the motion of air and other gaseous fluids and the forces acting on bodies passing through them. It is derived from the Ancient Greek words 'aḗr' meaning 'air' and 'dunamikḗ' meaning 'dynamics'. Aerodynamics involves topics covered in the field of fluid dynamics and its subfield of gas dynamics.
The fundamental forces of flight considered in aerodynamics are thrust, drag, lift, and weight. Thrust moves an airplane forward, drag holds it back, and lift keeps it airborne. Lift is explained by Bernoulli's principle, the Coanda effect, and Newton's third law of motion. Bernoulli's principle states that the pressure of a moving gas decreases as its velocity increases. When air flows over a curved wing, the flow is faster across the curved surface, resulting in greater upward pressure.
The study of aerodynamics has practical applications in the design of aircraft, rockets, and missiles, as well as in the design of automobiles, high-speed trains, ships, and the construction of bridges and tall buildings to ensure their stability in high winds.
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The study of airflow through solid objects
External aerodynamics involves the study of airflow around solid objects of various shapes. This includes evaluating the lift and drag on an airplane or the shock waves that form in front of a rocket. The lift of an airplane can be explained by Bernoulli's principle, the Coanda effect, and Newton's third law of motion. Bernoulli's principle states that the pressure of a moving gas decreases as its velocity increases. The Coanda effect describes how moving air is attracted to and flows along the surface of an airplane wing.
Internal aerodynamics, on the other hand, focuses on the study of airflow through passages in solid objects, such as the airflow through a jet engine or an air conditioning pipe. This field involves understanding the volume flow and mass flow of air, which are important measurement tasks in closed-loop process control. The airflow can be induced through mechanical means, such as electric or manual fans, or passively through pressure differentials in the environment.
Additionally, airflow can be simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling or experimentally observed through wind tunnel tests. These techniques are valuable tools for predicting airflow patterns around various objects, such as aircraft, and for analysing pollution concentrations in different environments.
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The forces of flight: weight, lift, drag, and thrust
Aerodynamics is the study of how gases interact with moving bodies, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. There are four primary forces of flight that make up the principles of aerodynamics: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. These forces are in a constant state of interplay and dictate the aircraft's performance and the smoothness of the flight.
Weight is a force that is always directed toward the center of the earth. The magnitude of the weight force depends on the mass of the airplane, including its parts, fuel, and any payload on board. The weight is counteracted by lift during flight. Lift is the aerodynamic force that is crucial for keeping the aircraft airborne. It is generally explained by three theories: Bernoulli's principle, the Coanda effect, and Newton's third law of motion. Bernoulli's principle states that as the speed of a fluid increases, its pressure decreases. When air flows over a wing with a curved upper surface and a flat lower surface, the flow is faster across the curved surface, resulting in lower pressure on top of the wing and higher pressure below, contributing to the lift force.
Thrust is the aerodynamic force produced by an aircraft's engines to propel it forward through the air. During takeoff, sufficient thrust must overcome the aircraft's weight and drag to achieve the necessary lift-off speed. At cruising altitude, thrust is adjusted to balance with drag, allowing the aircraft to maintain a steady speed and altitude. Thrust management is a dynamic aspect of flying, requiring careful adjustment in response to changes in aircraft weight, air density, and desired flight path.
Drag is the force that acts in a rearward direction, opposite to the direction in which the aircraft is traveling. It is caused by the air resisting the motion of the aircraft. The greater the angle of attack, the greater the downward flow, and thus the drag force. Another kind of drag is caused by the slowing of air very near to the aircraft's surface, which can be reduced by making the surface area of the craft smaller.
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The history of aerodynamics
The study of aerodynamics concerns the motion of air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. The term has its roots in the Ancient Greek words 'aḗr' meaning 'air' and 'dunamikḗ' meaning 'dynamics'. While humans have harnessed aerodynamic forces for thousands of years, the formal study of aerodynamics is a much more modern endeavour.
The Ancient World
Fundamental concepts of aerodynamics were first observed in the work of Aristotle and Archimedes in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC. Aristotle wrote about air resistance in the 4th century BC, noting the paradoxical effect of air on a moving object such as a thrown spear, which he believed both resisted its motion and propelled it forward. In the 3rd century BC, Archimedes introduced the concept that fluid flow was driven by a pressure gradient within the fluid, an idea that would later prove fundamental to the understanding of fluid flow.
The 17th and 18th Centuries
In the 17th century, Leonardo da Vinci rejected Aristotle's theory of air resistance and attempted to prove that the only effect of air on a thrown object was to resist its motion. In the late 17th century, Edme Mariotte and Christiaan Huygens of the Paris Academy of Sciences experimentally proved the quadratic dependency of drag on velocity. In the early 18th century, Sir Isaac Newton became the first person to theoretically derive this quadratic dependence of air resistance, making him one of the first aerodynamicists. In 1726, Newton developed a theory of air resistance, later verified for low flow speeds, and in 1738, Daniel Bernoulli published Hydrodynamica, which described a fundamental relationship between pressure, velocity, and density, now known as Bernoulli's principle.
The 19th Century
In the 19th century, early efforts in aerodynamics were directed toward achieving heavier-than-air flight. In 1799, Sir George Cayley identified the four aerodynamic forces of flight (weight, lift, drag, and thrust), and in doing so, outlined the path toward achieving heavier-than-air flight. In 1871, Francis Herbert Wenham constructed the first wind tunnel, allowing precise measurements of aerodynamic forces. In 1889, French aeronautical engineer Charles Renard became the first person to reasonably predict the power needed for sustained flight. Finally, in 1891, Otto Lilienthal became the first person to demonstrate heavier-than-air flight.
The 20th Century and Beyond
On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright flew the first successful powered aircraft. The flight led to more organized collaboration between aviators and aerodynamicists, paving the way for modern aerodynamics. In 1947, the sound barrier was broken using the Bell X-1 aircraft, achieving supersonic flight. Aerodynamic principles continue to be applied in the modern world, with computational techniques now being used to solve complex equations.
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Frequently asked questions
Aerodynamics is the study of the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with solid objects such as airplane wings. The first law of aerodynamics is Newton's second law, a statement of the conservation of momentum.
The three basic forces of aerodynamics are thrust, drag, and lift. Thrust moves an airplane forward, drag holds it back, and lift keeps it airborne.
Bernoulli's principle states that the pressure of a moving gas decreases as its velocity increases. Bernoulli's principle is one of three theories that explain lift, the others being the Coanda effect and Newton's third law of motion.
