- #1
fleeker
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- TL;DR Summary
- If you aimed a fan on a boat at its own sails, could it blow the boat forward?
I happened to be watching this cartoon and this one scene seriously bothered me...
This... just feels like it wouldn't be a workable solution. Am I wrong?
I can't say I perfectly understand how fans or propellers work, but I would imagine that by pushing air or water in one direction, equal force is created in the opposite direction for the base. Thus how a boat moves forward by pushing water back, or a plane moves forward by pushing air back...
In this case, pushing air forward towards a sail should push the boat backward, and the sail catching that created air-current should then counteract that, creating forward force roughly evening things out and keeping the boat stationary.
Am I wrong? When stuff like this is done under the masquerade of an educational series I can't help but wonder if they might be trying to troll adults who watch this or get them pestered by angry kids who can't make it work.
This... just feels like it wouldn't be a workable solution. Am I wrong?
I can't say I perfectly understand how fans or propellers work, but I would imagine that by pushing air or water in one direction, equal force is created in the opposite direction for the base. Thus how a boat moves forward by pushing water back, or a plane moves forward by pushing air back...
In this case, pushing air forward towards a sail should push the boat backward, and the sail catching that created air-current should then counteract that, creating forward force roughly evening things out and keeping the boat stationary.
Am I wrong? When stuff like this is done under the masquerade of an educational series I can't help but wonder if they might be trying to troll adults who watch this or get them pestered by angry kids who can't make it work.