tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34480619.post5520714309522742719..comments2024-03-11T13:47:03.621-05:00Comments on Physics and Physicists: Helicopter Offers Practical Lessons in PhysicsZapperZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15861398273820851809noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34480619.post-47100697572856417222009-04-13T15:20:00.000-05:002009-04-13T15:20:00.000-05:00I believe the more pertinent question here is, wha...I believe the more pertinent question here is, what aerodynamic principle is NOT demonstrated in a helicopter? Of course there is the aviation standard, Bernoulli's priciple as it applies to the airfoil of the rotor blade, but there are many more that are unique to helicopters. The idea of essentially infinite dissymetry of lift is something I doubt applies to a Cessna 172. But of course what makes a helicopter shine are the mechanics invoved, gyroscopic procession, rigidity in space, coriolis effect, ect. Also, loss of the tail rotor can be countered by closing the throttle to remove torque effect and removing all pitch from the main rotor blades allowing the main rotor to conserve angular momentum (maintaining rpm) without causing the helicopter to spin out of control. Raising the nose of the helicopter would allow the upflow of air from the high rate of descent (power is off) through the rotor disc to further maintain rpm entering a standard autorotation. <BR/> - Helicopter pilot and mechanicAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com