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Sails catch the wind which propels the boat forward
2nd Answereer says:
Previous answerer has been tricked by a trick question:
IN REALITY the wind foils around the the sail and PULLS the boat forward. A sail is nothing more than a vertical wing, providing LIFT. Should you ever have the pleasure to experience a strong puff of wind startling your becalmed craft, you will FEEL the LIFT that is provided. It's a physics thing (Aerodynamics).
3rd Answerer says:
Actually, its a bit of both!
When sailing "with the wind" (i.e. wind coming from straight behind the boat and hitting the sail pretty well square on) the push on the sail is transferred to the mast and boat. There's obviously a little bit of "less air pressure behind the sail" as a result, so there is some kind of "pull" going on too, but not much like this. (Air is too "runny" and will not let a significant area of low pressure form at lower speeds.)
But a triangular sailed boat is pretty clever really because you don't have to sail with the wind mostly behind you - you can sail "across" the wind, and depending on the design of the sail and boat combined can get pretty close up to the point where you start to sail into the wind. Some of this force is just from the "push" from the wind on the sail, and the structure of the boom/mast transfers the push onto the frame of the boat again. But the clever bit is that the shape of the sail does indeed then form a "wing" too, just like you get on an aeroplane, and the air hitting the sail supports the shape. Air flowing around the "front" of it then moves faster than behind it so you get a lower pressure forming in front which in turn "lifts" the boat forward. (Easier to draw than put in words!)
If you sail ("point up") too close the the direction the wind is coming from the sail will start to "luff" as air starts to come around the front of the sail, and pushes the front of it nearest the mast in the other way, spoiling the shape of the aerofoil wing and as a result the speed then drops off pretty sharply!
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe sail functions as a vertical wing, channeling airflow further along one surface than the other. As the airflow re-combines, it causes what is commonly called "lift". This pulls a vessel up & forward at the same time, due to the shape of the sail.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoSails form aerofoils, and the low pressure on the lee side pulls the craft forward.
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Would a sailor rather sail through the global wind belts or the doldrums and horse latitudes?
In the days of sail, they would obviously want to be in the wind.
Did the lateen sail decrease a sailer's dependence on the force of the wind or on the direction of the wind?
It reduced their dependence on the direction of the wind.
Why can't boats sail on dead sea?
because there is no wind
What is one wind system you can use to travel around Earth?
Prevailing winds can be used to help navigate ships and sailboats around the Earth by sea.You can sail a ship around this world even against the wind using wind energy. By picking up speed using wind then use kinetic energy gained to sail against the wind direction. So, yes, even with one wind direction we can sail the globe both ways.
Why does grass move in the wind?
Grass blades being lighter move in the wind.
Why whenA sail is at rest at the mid of ocean due to lack of wind .then wind coming from a fan inside the sail is blown to the mats of sail .state sail will move or not?
Not move. They cancel each other.
How land yacths work?
They have a sail to hellp it move also the wind pushes on the sail to make it move around.
How do sails and the wind move a boat?
The wind hitting the sail at an angle upwind pushes it sideways which is why you zigzag. Downwind wind hit sail straight on
How did ships in the olden days move?
Olden day ships move by the wind, the wind pushes the sail and it goes to the direction the wind is going.
What sail need to work?
a force in the air pushing a sail to move a boat also know as wind
Does a sail make the boat move slower or faster?
Actually, it does both depending on how you use them. The sails can move so a person sailing a boat can catch the wind by how they move the sail or they can also stop the boat by the movement of a sail or lowering the sail.
How much wind is needed to sail?
A little wind can move a boat depending on the size and weight of the boat.
What is a source of energy for a sail boat to move?
Kinetic energy in the wind and water.
True or false the Chinese developed a way to move the sails of ships that allowed ships to sail into the wind for the first time?
It is not possible to sail directly INTO the wind. Forty-five degrees is about as close as can be gained. Actually they did get the ships to sail into the wind. The above answer is wrong.
What is thd source of energy for a sail boat to move?
Kinetic energy in the wind and water.
How are ships with sails powered?
no the wind blows the sail/s and makes the ship/boat move :)
Is it better to sail with squared sails when the wind is opposite you?
You cannot sail with the wind opposite you. If the wind is following you, that is, directly astern, then you sail 'gull winged'.
