Wind Car 3 (Semi-spherical Cup Type)

Let's take a look!

Watch the video on YouTube.

What kind of experiment is this?

Experimental procedure and explanation:

• This wind car utilizes semi-spherical cups.
• Similar to wind car 2 experiment, it uses a crown gear to reduce the speed of rotation.
• One characteristic of this wind car is that it will move forward regardless of the direction of the wind.
• It is relatively easy to picture how the wind acts against the cups on the sides to utilize aerodynamic resistance (drag).
• Cups in the fore and aft positions also help: these cups generate lift to contribute to rotation.

[Keywords]	wind energy, drag, lift
[Reference]	“The Wonders of Flow,” Japan Society of Mechanical Engineering, Koudansha Blue Backs, pp. 118-199 “Illustrated Fluid Dynamics Trivia,” by Ryozo Ishiwata, Natsume Publishing, pp. 118-119 “Children’s Science,” Seibundo-Shinkosha, September 1997, pp. 45-47
[Link]	http://sc-smn.jst.go.jp/ (Search under program name “Science Battle,” and select #14 wind car.)