Message-Id: <9503202006.AA16192@st.unocal.com>
From: stssram@st.unocal.com (Bob Myers)
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 1995 12:06:43 -0800
In-Reply-To: hazel.2@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (Paul W Hazel)
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
Subject: Re: Paddling...
On Mar 20, 4:07, Paul W Hazel wrote:
} Subject: Re: Paddling...
> MRPK81A@prodigy.com writes:
>
> The presence of turbulence, in and of it self, means absolutely nothing.
> Turbulence is nothing more than a fluid (water) rushing to fill the "hole"
> left by the paddle. "HOW"
> the water was moved, resulting in turbulence, is the point. The width,
> length, area, shape, edge, and speed of a paddle all contribute to the
> amount of turbulence because they first are responsible for the initial
> movement of the water. Turbulence is a byproduct, like smoke from a fire.
I think this is wrong. The amount of turbulence should be relevant - it
takes energy to stir up the water, energy that can't be used to propel the
boat. To propel the boat, you need to move water backwards - turbulent
water has a lot of motion in a lot of different directions.
> A small fire burning green wood will make a lot of smoke. A fire of the same
> size burning dry wood efficiently may produce considerably less. However, a
> big efficient fire may produce as much smoke as a small inefficient one.
> Just seeing the smoke won't tell you much, and neither does seeing turbulence.
There's no law about conservation of smoke and inefficient burning, but
there is a law of conservation of energy.....
-- Bob Myers Unocal Tech. & Ops. I. S. Support Internet: Bob.Myers@st.unocal.com P. O. Box 68076 Phone: [714] 693-6951 Anaheim, California 92817-8076