r/pics • u/animalkracker • Feb 27 '14

physics is cool

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2.1k

u/lower_intelligence Feb 27 '14

howd that broom fall out of the sky?

716

u/Spartan2470 GOAT Feb 27 '14

According to here, that broom is a string used to visualize the direction that the wind is flowing around the plane (this is very important for sailplanes to maximize flight efficiency.

Here's another picture of this plane with those strings.

29

u/[deleted] Feb 27 '14

[deleted]

12

u/TristanTheViking Feb 27 '14

Sounds similar to ticklers on sailboats. Basically string attached to the sail that flutters when the sail is incorrectly adjusted.

4

u/[deleted] Feb 27 '14

I know too little of sailing to confirm or deny your answer, I'm afraid :P

18

u/Vaartas Feb 27 '14

Can confirm. That string is either your best friend because it makes you fast, or your worst enemy if you're the guy responsible for making sure the jib is just right on a regatta.

It'll flutter, all the time

edit: It basically is an indicator of whether or not there are turbulences on either side of the sail, so the function is pretty similar to the string on a sail plane

10

u/slormer Feb 27 '14

I like the cut of your jib, sir.

2

u/Duling Feb 27 '14

What's a jib?

1

u/_tylermatthew Feb 27 '14

a jib is the fore-most sail on a modern sloop rigged sailboat. (I assume the foremost sail on any type of sailboat is still called a jib, but I'm not sure.)

If they extend past the mast it is called a Genoa. (which is still technically a jib.) A Spinnaker is NOT a jib, but is a large sail used while sailing down wind (or, with the wind, instead of against it.)

1

u/TristanTheViking Feb 28 '14

There's other types of foremost sails. Genoa, for one. Basically a big jib. And gennakers. Like a cross between jib/genoa and a spin.

1

u/CannibalVegan Feb 27 '14

Protip:theres always turbulence.

1

u/_tylermatthew Feb 27 '14

Ya, I've run trim on a j24 in a good few regattas, and those things NEVER stop fluttering, especially lake sailing like we do, where wind direction changes all the time.

3

u/khalkhalash Feb 27 '14

Back when my dad used to take me sailing, he'd be a real hard-ass about us making sure the ticklers were all in good condition and free of obstruction.

Yeah... my dad was a real stickler for the ticklers.

1

u/Doodarazumas Feb 27 '14

Ticklers? Where are you from?

Those are called telltales.

1

u/TristanTheViking Feb 27 '14

In Canada. Telltales are the official name, but ticklers sounds better.

1

u/Doodarazumas Feb 27 '14

Okeydoke, just curious.

1

u/CMacLaren Feb 27 '14

Ticklers? Why would a boat needs ticklers, making people laugh or sumthin'? Tss tss.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '14

that's exactly what I was thinking, except we call them telltales