This site from NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio provides detailed introductory information on "aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics" through the medium of wind tunnels. The site provides extensive information about and color pictures of the eight-by-six foot supersonic Wind Tunnel, "NASA's only transonic propulsion wind tunnel...an invaluable tool to researchers as they...

Aerodynamics is the study of what makes things go fast, right? More specifically, it’s the study of the interaction between bodies and the atmosphere. If you’ve been watching Wimbeldon lately, you might have been wondering about the aerodynamics of tennis. Or maybe you were riding your bike the other day and wondering how you could pick up a little more speed next time. This topic in depth...

This Web site serves as an online aerodynamics textbook for college students. Offered by the department of Aerospace, Mechanical, and Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Sydney, the material is divided into several main categories. These include fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, gasdynamics, aircraft performance, and propulsion. Each of these sections has many specific topics that are...

The Learning Technologies Project (LTP) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center provides the Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics Website. This site offers an introduction to the fundamentals of aerodynamics and propulsion. Sections included at the site are Airplanes, Lift, Air, Gliders, Wind Tunnel, Curve Ball, and Forces. Most of the sections include a...

This site from NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio provides detailed introductory information on "aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics" through the medium of wind tunnels. Geared for K-12 classrooms, describes the history of wind tunnels, how to build your own wind tunnel, wind tunnels on the Web, and several other aeronautics-related lessons.

This Topic in Depth explores the Web's offerings on the physics of sailing. The first site by Joe Wolfe of the School of Physics at the University of New South Wales is entitled The Physics of Sailing (1). Here, visitors will learn how boats can sail upwind, how they sail faster than the wind, and why large boats never sail directly with the wind. The one-page site offers simple descriptions, good...