From: Guillemot@aol.com
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 1995 17:37:16 -0500
Message-Id: <950317173716_52788688@aol.com>
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
Subject: Not an easy problem
Today I asked Dr. Ted, our resident "Piled Higher and Deeper" type at work,
about the paddle problem. Dr. Ted's specialty is fluid dynamics. I was
alternately able to convince him that: 1) even with cavitation a paddle
should be 100% efficient, or 2) cavitation and vortex shedding were wasted
energy indicating less than perfect energy transfer.
One thing he pointed out is that you MUST add momentum to the water to gain
momentum in the boat (conservation of momentum). Therefore moving water is
not a bad thing.
Dr. Ted is thinking about the problem. If he has any new insights I'll let
you know.
Nick Schade