# Physics and suger gliders

1. May 19, 2006

### Taryn

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!

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2. Jun 5, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
Assuming that it is travelling with a uniform velocity; what are the conditions for uniform velocity?

Last edited: Jun 5, 2006