296 Pages 143 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    296 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Breaking down the complicated concepts of speed, acceleration, torque, fluid mechanics, and surface physics, Physics of Sailing provides a lively, easily accessible introduction to the basic science underlying the sport of sailing. It illustrates the many ways physics can be used to understand the principles of sailboat propulsion and how a scientific understanding of the boat, wind, and water can lead to more skillful sailing.

    After a brief but insightful tour of the history of sailing, the book explores the physics involved in making faster sailing crafts for both upwind and downwind sailing, including Newton’s impact theory of fluid resistance and lift and drag phenomena. It compares possible sail shapes, presents measurements of hull smoothness, and describes wind turbulence, the nature of water waves, and the structure of wakes. Using the physics of optics, the author also explains the connection between water’s appearance and the wind. Along with a glossary of sailing terms, he includes many examples throughout to illustrate the concepts in practice.

    Avoiding unnecessary formalisms, this book skillfully applies the principles of fluid mechanics to sailboat technology and the art of sailing. It should help you become a more knowledgeable sailor.

    Depart, Depart from Solid Earth

    Why Sailing, Why Physics, Why Both?

    Origins

    There’s Much More

    Downwind—The Easy Direction

    Speed

    Forces

    Boatspeed

    Wind Shadow

    Acceleration

    Examples

    The Speed Limit

    Upwind—The Hard Direction

    Overview

    Iceboats

    Sailboat Speeds

    Why Is Sailing Upwind So Complicated?

    Tipping, Torques, and Trouble

    Roll, Pitch, and Yaw

    Torques

    Centers of Mass, Buoyancy, and Effort

    Catamaran

    Iceboat

    Monohull

    Staying Upright

    Steering and Helm

    Dynamics

    Upright Mast

    Personal Torques

    See How the Mainsail Sets

    Spinnaker

    Mainsail and Jib

    Real Sails

    What Really Counts

    Fluid Dynamics

    Navier–Stokes Equation

    Viscosity

    Reynolds Number

    Boundary Layers

    Euler Equation

    Why Are Fluids So Complicated?

    Surfaces

    An Example

    Inadequate Theory

    Curiosities

    When Is It Smooth Enough?

    Waves and Wakes

    Wave Shape

    Water Motion

    Gravity Waves

    Capillary Waves

    Damping

    Wind and Waves

    Wave Packets and Group Velocity

    An Example

    Wakes

    The Importance of Waves

    Wind

    Two Examples

    Turbulence

    Wind up High

    Weather

    Apologies

    Strategy

    Directions

    Constant Preferred Direction

    Variable Preferred Direction

    Current

    Least-Time Path

    Light Analogy

    Mathematical Approach

    Predicting the Wind

    Real Sailing

    Finally

    Sailing Glossary

    Index

    Biography

    John Kimball is a professor of physics at the University of Albany.

    … a potpourri of good physics picking on the many areas in which basic and not so basic physics apply. … The chapter on fluid dynamics sets this book apart by its sceptical and pragmatic approach … Kimball puts each idea in its place showing where its strengths and weaknesses are. In doing so he provides a rare overview which so many books fail to give. … Chapters on wind generation and strategy conclude a fascinating read. … it is an intriguing gathering together of many disparate ideas which will keep the sailing scientist quiet in his bunk for many evenings. Also, it should be a standard introduction to any fluid dynamics course.
    —R.S. Shorter, Contemporary Physics, 52, 2011

    … an excellent introduction to the forces that enable sailboats to perform … . John Kimball has contributed a readable explanation of the physics behind sailing that will appeal to a wide range of technically oriented readers.
    —James Harper, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA

    The book is very well written and informative.
    —Guy Vandegrift, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA

    I like the book very much. It is well written and … fills a nice gap between my very introductory book and an even more detailed, mathematical approach.
    —Bryon D. Anderson, Ph.D., Kent State University, Ohio, USA