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How do sails propel a boat forward what principle does a sail cause and object to move?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
A sail can act in different ways.
It can catch the wind straight on which causes the boat to be dragged along, like holding a bag in front of a fan.
Or it can catch the wind at an angle. This makes the sail work like an aeroplane wing. The wind makes the sail curve and air rushes over the front (concave or indented side) and over the back (the convex or bowed out side).
The air passing over the back, bowed out side moves faster than the air on the front so the pressure on that side is lower. This causes lift which pulls the boat in that direction.
(research lift of wings to get a full understanding how this works)
This lift effect can be used to move a boat in a different direction to the way the wind is blowing. This is why boats tack or zig zag sometimes rather than go in a straight line. Learning to set the sails and how to manoeuvre when the wind isn't blowing the way you want to go. Is more like an art than a science. The basics can be picked up quickly but it takes many years or even a lifetime to become an expert. They act as aerofoils, much like the wings of an aeroplane, and work by the air pressure difference on the surfaces of the sails.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What is a definition of propelling?
From dictionary.com (linked below) ------------------------------------------ propel -verb (used with object), -pelled, -pel⋅ling. 1. to drive, or cause to move, forward or onward: to propel a boat by rowing. 2. to impel or urge onward: Urgent need of money propelled him to take a job.
What are synonyms for propel?
synonyms for propel is push, force, impel, launch, move, shoot, send, press,and start the meaning of propel is cause to move, forward or onward.
What is the root word of propellers?
The root word of "propellers" is "propel," which means to drive forward or cause to move.
Would can cause a moving object to increase its speed in a forward direction?
An increase in the force applied to the object or a decrease in the resistance or friction acting against the object can cause it to increase its speed in a forward direction. Additionally, changes in the object's weight, aerodynamics, or the surface it is moving on can also contribute to an increase in its speed.
Will propel cause weight gain?
Anything caloric can cause weight gain, including Propel fitness water.
Can sperm move in reverse?
Spermatozoa move in a "forward" motion, thus directly moving towards the mature and released egg. Sperm propel forward only and variation in the whipping motion of the flagellum only cause the sperm to turn aimlessly rather than moving directly forward.
When an object moves forward friction can cause a force that pulls on it?
Friction is a force that opposes the motion of an object, so when an object moves forward, friction acts in the opposite direction to slow down the object. The force of friction is proportional to the weight of the object and the surface it is moving across.
Will propel zero cause weight gain?
it sure will.
To cause something to go somewhere?
You can prompt an object to move by applying force or energy to it in a desired direction. This action can involve physically pushing or pulling the object, or using external factors like gravity or electricity to propel it to a specific location.
How Archimedes principle determines the force on an object in an fluid medium?
Well, as an object is in a fluid, it displaces the water and more of one or more different objects same or different will cause more water displacement.
How does a constant forward force affect motion?
A constant forward force applied to an object will cause it to accelerate in the direction of the force. The object will continue to increase its velocity as long as the force is applied, following Newton's second law, F=ma. However, if other forces, like friction or air resistance, are present, they may act in the opposite direction and counteract the forward force, reducing the acceleration of the object.
What two forces cause projectile motion?
The two forces that cause projectile motion are gravity, which acts to pull the object downward, and the initial velocity, which propels the object forward. These forces combine to create a curved path for the projectile as it moves through the air.
