FoilSim and CurveBall

Abstract:

FoilSim II computes the theoretical lift of a variety of airfoil shapes. The user can control the shape, size, and inclination of the airfoil and the atmospheric conditions in which the airfoil is flying. The program includes a stall model for the airfoil, a model of the Martian atmosphere, and the ability to specify a variety of fluids for lift comparisons. The program has graphical and numerical output, including an interactive probe which you can use to investigate the details of flow around an airfoil.
Using the CurveBall applet, students learn more about aerodynamics by controlling conditions of a big league baseball pitch, including altitude(location), speed of pitch, and spin of pitch. The latest version has the ability to specify atmospheric conditions for the baseball game.

Subject:

Mathematics and Statistics, Science and Technology

Grade Level:

Secondary

Collection:

NASA