Cornell Researchers solve the Falling-Paper Problem
James Maxwell in 1853 studied the motion of falling playing cards, wondering why flat surfaces do not fall straight down like other objects. Now a researcher from Cornell University has found an answer. As J. Wang explains, “Leaves and paper fall and rise in a seeming chaotic manner. As they fall, air swirls up around their edges, which makes them flutter and tumble. Because the flow changes dramatically around the sharp edges of leaves and paper, known as flow singularity, it makes the prediction of the falling trajectory a challenge” (www.physorg.com/news1630.html).
“There were a few surprises,” Wang notes. “We found the flat paper rises on its own as it falls, which would not happen if the force due to air is similar to that on an airfoil.”
See more in the Cornell Daily Sun and Slashdot.
| This entry was posted on Sunday, October 31st, 2004 at 5:34 pm and is tagged with cornell researchers, james maxwell, chaotic manner, cornell university, flat surfaces, flow changes, slashdot, j wang, daily sun, airfoil, sharp edges, singularity, playing cards, trajectory, researcher, few surprises, leaves. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback. |
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This same fenomena is what makes possible the lift of the airplanes.