>From my model rocket days. Won't work for a full size vehicle, but a
correctly weighted model should suffice. Last line is the kicker.
"There is a relatively simple test that you can use on a model rocket to
determine the stability. Tie a string around the body tube at the location
of the center of gravity. Then swing the rocket in a circle around you
while holding the other end of the string. After a few revolutions, if the
nose points in the direction of the rotation, the rocket is stable and the
center of pressure is below the center of gravity. If the rocket wobbles, or
the tail points in the direction of rotation, the rocket is unstable.
You can increase the stability by lowering the center of pressure (increase
the fin area) or by raising the center of gravity (add weight to the nose.)"
from http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/rktstab.html
Thanks,
Jim.
-----Original Message-----
From: gary baker [mailto:lsr350@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2002 10:04 AM
To: ardunbill@webtv.net; guambomb743@msn.com; list
Subject: Re: Race bike Stability and Safety
...
Our directional stability can also be upset when the C of P ( centre of
pressure ) is in front of our C of G ( centre of gravity ) , as our speed
increases separation from laminar flow to turbulent happens sooner ,which
moves the C of P forward of our C of G causing instability, if we move our C
of G closer the front we alter our forward / rear mass bias then we get
problems with to little weight over the rear tyre and traction problems
arise
...
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