“Aerodynamic Forces and Energy”

Choose one of the following topics for your initial post this week:

• Explore the interactive titled “Lift and Drag” under the Lift and Drag terms section of the Science corner. You can also view it at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/lift-drag.html. Next, describe the way in which one could use both Newton’s Third Law of Motion and the Bernoulli Effect to explain the generation of a lifting force when air passes over an airfoil.
• Read the article titled “Why don’t I fall out when a roller coaster goes upside down?” under the Forces terms section of the Science corner. You can also view it at http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/rollercoaster.html. Next, imagine that you are trying to convince your apprehensive friend John to take his first roller-coaster ride. Then, explain to John the manner in which the roller-coaster engineers use physics to create a safe, yet thrilling ride. Note: In your explanation, be sure to include a discussion of potential energy, kinetic energy, angular momentum, frictional forces, and inertia when analyzing all aspects of the roller-coaster ride.