Guide to Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is the study of forces and the resulting motion of objects through the air.
What is Aerodynamics?
The word comes from two Greek words: aerios, concerning the air, and dynamis, which means force. Aerodynamics is the study of forces and the resulting motion of objects through the air. Humans have been interested in aerodynamics and flying for thousands of years, although flying in a heavier-than-air machine has been possible only in the last hundred years.
Aerodynamics affects the motion of a large airliner, a model rocket, a beach ball thrown near the shore, or a kite flying high overhead. The curveball thrown by big league baseball pitchers gets its curve from aerodynamics.
Lessons in Aerodynamics
- Aerodynamic Forces
- Dynamic Pressure
- Center of Pressure
- Aerodynamic Center
- Reynolds Number Interactive
- Boundary Layer
- Mass Flow Rate
- Definition of Streamlines
Object Motion
- DropSim Interactive Simulator
- Basic Object Motion
- Object Motion Due to a Side Force
- Ballistic Flight Interactive
- Falling Objects – Newton’s First Law
- Motion of Free Falling Object
- Free Fall without Air Resistance
- Falling Object with Air Resistance
- Terminal Velocity Interactive
- Flight with Drag Interactive
Aircraft Motion
- RangeGames Interactive Simulator
- Simplified Aircraft Motion
- Aircraft Motion – Newton’s Laws of Motion
- Aircraft Translations
- Aircraft Rotations
- Banking Turns
- Range – Constant Velocity
- Maximum Flight Time
- Range Summary
Airplane Parts
- Airplane Parts and Function
- Fuselage
- Turbine Engines
- Wing Geometry Definitions Interactive
- Winglets
- Elevator Interactive
- Ailerons
- Rudder Interactive
- Spoilers Interactive
- Flaps and Slats Interactive
- Stabilator Animation
- Pitot-Static Tube – Speedometer
Aircraft Forces
- Four Forces on an Airplane
- What is Weight?
- What is Lift?
- What is Drag?
- What is Thrust?
- Lift to Drag Ratio
- Thrust to Weight Ratio
- Excess Thrust (Thrust – Drag)
- Forces in a Climb
- Vectored Thrust
- Airplane Cruise – Balanced Forces
- Trimmed Aircraft
- Momentum Effects
- Density Effects Interactive
- Velocity Effects Interactive
Thrust
- EngineSim Interactive Simulator
- Thrust Equation
Weight
- Determining Aircraft Weight
- Center of Gravity
- Aircraft Center of Gravity
- Weight Equation
Lift
- Student Airfoil Interactive Simulator
- Bernoulli and Newton
- Objects with Lift
- Shed Vorticity
- Equal Transit Theory
- Skipping Stone Theory
- Venturi Theory
- Factors That Affect Lift
- Shape Effects on Lift
- Size Effects on Lift
- Inclination Effects on Lift
- Downwash Effects on Lift
- Lift Equation
- Lift Coefficient
Drag
- Factors That Affect Drag
- Shape Effects on Drag
- Drag on a Sphere…Animated
- Size Effects on Drag
- Inclination Effects on Drag
- Drag Measurement
- Induced Drag Coefficient
- Drag Equation
- Drag Coefficient
Gliders
- Gliders
- Paper Airplanes Plans
- Fun with Gliders
- Space Shuttle as a Glider
- Three Forces on a Glider
- Glide Angle
- Vector Balance of Forces – Glider
- Glider Trajectory Problem
Resources
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA Official: Nancy Hall
Page Editor: Nancy Hall
Page Last Updated: December 7, 2023
Glenn Research Center
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