What are the conditions for uniform velocity in the flight of a sugar glider?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Taryn
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Physics
Click For Summary
Uniform velocity in the flight of a sugar glider requires that the net force acting on it is zero, meaning that the lift force must equal the gravitational force when drag is negligible. The lift force is generated by the pressure difference across the wings and acts perpendicular to the direction of flight, while gravity acts downward. For the sugar glider to maintain a straight path at a specific angle, the forces must be balanced, with lift counteracting weight. Understanding the diagram is crucial for visualizing these forces and their interactions. Achieving uniform velocity involves ensuring that these conditions are met consistently during flight.
Taryn
Messages
63
Reaction score
0
Hey I am just having a little trouble with understanding the diagram... i thought I knew wat to do but I seem to get it wrong and now I am confused... if you could help I would be very appreciative!
The diagram is on an attachment!


There are essentially three forces involved in flying: (i) ``lift'' Fl generated by the difference in air pressure between the top and bottom parts of a wing (or wing-like object), (ii) ``drag'' Fd due to air resistance, and (iii) ``gravity'' Fg. Note that ``lift'' is usually perpendicular to the flight direction while ``drag'' is directed in the opposite direction to flight.
These forces are involved in explaining the flight of aeroplanes, birds, flying foxes (bats), flying fish, sugar gliders, etc. Consider a sugar glider (petaurus breviceps) of mass m = 0.118 kg that is gliding from one tree to the next along a straight path at = 20.2o with respect to the horizontal as shown in the diagram. Assuming that there is negligible ``drag'', what is the magnitude of the ``lift'' force (in N)? Read more about sugar gliders here.

I know the answer is so simple... just has me stumped atm!
 

Attachments

  • glider.gif
    glider.gif
    1.2 KB · Views: 544
Physics news on Phys.org
Assuming that it is traveling with a uniform velocity; what are the conditions for uniform velocity?
 
Last edited:

Thread 'Help with derivation of electric field of a moving charge'

At first, I derived that: $$\nabla \frac 1{\mu}=-\frac 1{{\mu}^3}\left((1-\beta^2)+\frac{\dot{\vec\beta}\cdot\vec R}c\right)\vec R$$ (dot means differentiation with respect to ##t'##). I assume this result is true because it gives valid result for magnetic field. To find electric field one should also derive partial derivative of ##\vec A## with respect to ##t##. I've used chain rule, substituted ##\vec A## and used derivative of product formula. $$\frac {\partial \vec A}{\partial t}=\frac...
View full post »

Similar threads

What is the optimum wing angle and corresponding travelled?
Replies
6
Views
2K
What factors affect a golf ball's drag and lift besides spin and speed?
Replies
2
Views
3K
B How can a glider or an airplane do a loop without thrust
Replies
33
Views
5K
Tethered aircraft lifting power, low gee world
Replies
17
Views
2K
How can the lift produced by animal wings be calculated?
Replies
42
Views
10K
Predicting the behaviour of a closed circular airfoil
Replies
8
Views
2K
I Gyroscopic precession of a spin-stabilized bullet
Replies
10
Views
4K
Finding the Minimum Velocity for Sustaining Flight Using Dimensional Analysis
Replies
2
Views
2K
Forces on a Sailplane: Study of Flight Dynamics
Replies
1
Views
3K
Lift: Probably my last question
Replies
7
Views
2K