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Introduction Turbulent shear flows, including attached boundary layers and separated shear layers, are important application test cases for computational fluid…
WHAT MAKES A HOT-AIR BALLOON OR A BLIMP FLOAT? Hot-air balloons and blimps can float in the air thanks to…
Air is not just empty space—it has substance, or mass. Air has molecules that are constantly moving. Because air has…
WHAT IS GRAVITY? Gravity holds us to the surface of the Earth and keeps our atmosphere wrapped around our planet.…
Understanding the basics—gravity and air—is key. To rise above it all, you have to face some facts: You must grapple…
WE JUST AREN’T BUILT TO FLY Birds inspired our first attempts to fly, but our progress was limited until we…
FOUR FORCES AFFECT THINGS THAT FLY: 1. Weight is the force of gravity. It acts in a downward direction—toward the center of…
Understanding how things fly begins by learning about the Four Forces of Flight. When an airplane flies, the wing is…
HOW DOES SPACE AFFECT STRUCTURE? If a spacecraft flies only in space and not through an atmosphere, it does not…
WHAT HAPPENS TO VEHICLES AT HYPERSONIC SPEEDS? A vehicle designed to fly at hypersonic speed (more than five times the…
WHAT KINDS OF MATERIALS ARE USED TO MAKE AIRCRAFT? Several materials can be used for major structures—wings, fuselage, or landing…
HOW DOES AN AIRCRAFT BALANCE WEIGHT AND STRENGTH? Finding a safe compromise between low weight and high strength is critical…
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