Engineering >> Mechanical EngineeringTraveling Distance of a Skimboardby Michael Rzonca
Submitted : Spring 2011 The purpose of this project was to try and figure out the optimum conditions to maximize distance travelled on a skimboard. The student was given an equation that needed to be integrated in order to provide an expression that would represent the total traveling distance of the skimboard: 1.) How does the angle of attack affect the overall distance the skimboard has travelled? 2.) How does the aerodynamic drag of the rider affect the overall distance the skimboard has travelled? Each variable being within the equation that was integrated made an impact over the total traveling distance of the skimboard. The variable being observed was changed to three different values while keeping all other elements constant. In regards to the angle of attack, it was noted that the larger the angle from the horizontal, the smaller the distance traveled. For a skimboarder to obtain maximum distance, they must keep their angle of attack as close to 0° (the horizontal) as possible. However, a positive, nonzero, angle must be maintained for the skimboard to keep afloat. It was also concluded that the less surface area of the rider’s body that was exposed to aerodynamic drag resulted in further total distances traveled.
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