Re: Galileo Day

EvMick@aol.com
Wed, 17 Feb 1999 00:45:37 EST

In a message dated 2/16/99 10:57:16 PM Central Standard Time, Ian@Goddard.net writes:

> The wing has the most aerodynamically favorable shape 

> of just about any part of the plane, so it had every-
> thing in its favor. So, why didn't it fall faster?

Uh...no.

A wing is optimized for lift. An "ogiveal" shape is optimized for rapid transit thru a fluid medium.. That's why the nose of a large (subsonic) aircraft , or sub,..is shaped similarly to that of a bomb...or raindrop.

A wing is shaped vaugely like a leaf. Recall what a leaf does when dropped?

EvMick