Sailing into Wind Is Explained by Newtonian Mechanics Based on The Mass-Flow Rate

Nicholas Landell-Mills

European Journal of Applied Physics, 2020, vol. 2, issue 4

Abstract: The physics of sailing into the wind can be explained using Newtonian mechanics based on the mass flow rate. The sail re-directs a mass of air each second (m/dt) towards the boat’s stern, at a relative velocity (dv) that depends on the apparent wind. The re-directed airflows push against the otherwise undisturbed apparent wind to create a backward force (i.e. Force = ma = m/dt × dv). The reaction generates an equal and opposite forward force that pushes the boat ahead. There are two separate airflows as the sail re-directs the wind on the sail’s windward and leeward sides. The leeward airflow relies on the Coanda effect and is sensitive to the sail’s angle-of-attack (AOA). This approach provides new and valuable insights on sailing into the wind. However, it is a very different approach compared to the current explanations of sailing into the wind, described by fluid mechanics and vector-based solutions.

Keywords: Coanda effect; Newton; physics; sailing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:epw:physic:v:2:y:2020:i:4:id:11018

DOI: 10.24018/ejphysics.2020.2.4.18

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