ERIC Number: EJ825953
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Jan
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0143-0807
EISSN: N/A
Dynamic Soaring: Aerodynamics for Albatrosses
Denny, Mark
European Journal of Physics, v30 n1 p75-84 Jan 2009
Albatrosses have evolved to soar and glide efficiently. By maximizing their lift-to-drag ratio "L/D", albatrosses can gain energy from the wind and can travel long distances with little effort. We simplify the difficult aerodynamic equations of motion by assuming that albatrosses maintain a constant "L/D". Analytic solutions to the simplified equations provide an instructive and appealing example of fixed-wing aerodynamics suitable for undergraduate demonstration. (Contains 5 figures and 6 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Equations (Mathematics), Physics, Animals, Motion, Science Instruction, Undergraduate Study, College Science, Energy, Biomechanics
Institute of Physics Publishing. The Public Ledger Building Suite 929, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 215-627-0880; Fax: 215-627-0879; e-mail: info@ioppubusa.com; Web site: http://www.iop.org/EJ/journal/EJP
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A