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Launch-to-Glide Transition

← Builds on Center of Gravity and Tail Volume

Terms you will need

  • center of gravityThe point in an object where its weight is evenly balanced in all directions.
  • elastic potential energyEnergy stored in an object when it is stretched or compressed.

How this topic runs

  1. 1How it works
  2. 2At competition depth

Figure (1)

Two bodies orbiting their barycenter (red cross)

This spinning motion is characterized by angular velocity, which is the rate of change of angular position. The glider's angular velocity is directly related to its tangential speed at any point on its surface, with the relationship defined by the radius of rotation. As the glider spins, it stores rotational kinetic energy, which is a function of its moment of inertia and angular velocity.

During this transition, the rotational motion is converted into translational motion. The glider's center of mass, which is the point where the entire mass of the glider can be considered to be concentrated, begins to move forward. The conversion from rotational to translational motion is governed by the conservation of energy, where the stored rotational kinetic energy is partially converted into translational kinetic energy.

Key Points

  • The center of gravity is the point around which the resultant torque due to gravity forces vanishes, and it is the unique point where the weighted relative position of the distributed mass sums to zero.
  • Elastic potential energy is the mechanical energy stored in a material or physical system as it is subjected to elastic deformation by work performed upon it.

Terms

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