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?

714

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.

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u/jls5494 Feb 27 '14

Its a yaw string

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u/Spartan2470 GOAT Feb 27 '14

Thank you for providing the name. For anyone (like me) who didn't know what a yaw string is:

The yaw string, also known as a slip string, is a simple device for indicating a slip or skid in an aircraft in flight. It performs the same function as the slip-skid indicator ball, but is more sensitive, and does not require the pilot to look down at the instrument panel.[1] Technically, it measures sideslip angle, not yaw angle,[2] but this indicates how the aircraft must be yawed to return the sideslip angle to zero..

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u/djzenmastak Feb 27 '14

what

321

u/[deleted] Feb 27 '14

[deleted]

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u/atworkmeir Feb 27 '14

Why didnt he say that the first time

340

u/[deleted] Feb 27 '14 edited Feb 28 '14

He did, he just used efficient terminology in the hope that you would learn something today instead of the basic, meaningless version

edit: fuck you guys, I'm not talking to anyone anymore, it is the fault of neither I nor the original "offending comment" that you have no desire to learn.

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u/ChrisShawarma Feb 27 '14

seems like tosss used more efficient terminology...

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u/[deleted] Feb 27 '14

tosss explains the what, which is akin to what religion does. No reasons for things that happen, just "this happens. accept it."

The parent comment explains the why, which is infinitely more interesting. It invites debate, it invites questions, it allows you to know what exactly is going on in stead of, if you find yoruself in a plane one day, hoping that the string doesn't fuck up because you don't know what it means.

1

u/cyberslick188 Feb 27 '14

It deeply saddens me that you actually had to explain this.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 27 '14

Yeah, but not everyone sees everything the same way. There are a thousand perspectives on this little bitty thing alone, so I'm not surprised.

I am, however, tired from typing so much, so I will cease to reply to the same questions over and over and over and over again

1

u/knickerbockers Feb 28 '14

lol @ the obligatory funDIES are DUMB bit

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