Aerodynamics
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
| Aerodynamics merit badge | ||||
| ||||
| Status: | Discontinued | BSA Advancement ID: | None | |
| Created: | 1942 | Original/new/replaced: | ||
| Discontinued: | 1952 | Replaced by: | ||
Contents |
[[Category:Discontinued {{{group}}} merit badges]]
| Aerodynamics is a discontinued merit badge. It was first offered in 1941 with Aeronautics, to replace Aviation. It was replaced, along with Aeronautics, by Aviation in 1952 |
Merit badge requirements
- 1 (a) Show that air has weight and pressure, using as an improvised barometer, a sauce dish or pan and a tall cylindrical glass of water; (b) explain variations in air due to altitude, and point out some resulting problems for engines, for flight path hazards, and for the pilot himself.
- 2. Demonstrate Bernoulli's law that air speed reduces pressure, using a spool and a small card, or a tube and a ping pong ball.
- 3. (a) Build a six-inch airfoil wing section of 5-inch chord and high left cambers, and mount and demonstrate with it the principle of lift; (b) Submit with explainations, a rough diagram used in explaining to another Scout the Aeronauticsd Merit Badge outline of the positive forces of Thrust and Lift and the negative forces of Gravity and Drag.
- 4. (a) Build three drag demonstration airfoils of same cross-section width - cube, cylinder, "streamline" - using a cylindrical oatmeal box, some cardboard, paper and glue; (b) improvise small easy-rolling 4-wheel support to demonstrate air resistance of the airfoils in an air current.
- 5. Build and demonstrate the use of small, simple wind tunnel to provide controlled air current; OR build and demonstrate a simple air speed measuring device.
- 6. Build a rubberband powered flying model airplane of some type new to the builder, and fly in some competition. (Kit may be used.)
- 7. (a) Draw rough side-view outline of monoplane and use in explaining the "angle of attack" (British - angle of incidence); (b) demonstrate why an air stream action enables "control surfaces" to control the direction of the plane; (c) review what stick-and-pedal-action alters which control surfaces.
- 8. (a) Indicate six or more ways for a pilot, about to land, to identify wind direction; (b) explain the relative plus and minus air speed advantages of taking-off and landing into the wind; (c) explain the aerodynamics of stalling.
- 9. (a) Test the relative speeds in an air current of two propellers of approximately the same diameter qnd blade area, but of different pitch; (b) point out the advantages of the modern variable pitch propeller.
| The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Handbook for Boys, 1948 Edition |
Notes
This merit badge was part of the Air Explorer program during World War II.
