WIND TUNNEL EXPERIMENTS TO TEACH PHYSICS

The modern European school system is trying to develop a new system of teaching activities suitable for children to get used to mathematics and physics sciences. This leads to show the children the link between the theoretical concepts that they usually learn in the school with some of the physics principles that are behind some of the most relevant technological advances, i.e.: the principles of flight applied to the aviation.
The principle of flight is a concept linked to fluid dynamics. The high complexity in the background of physics and mathematics behind the fluid dynamics science makes this topic difficult to understand for primary and secondary school students. Additionally, teaching this subject seems far from the desirable reachable objectives of the professor. This aspect, leads to develop new teaching activities that make possible the connection between this complex science and the possible interest and capabilities of the students and professors.

Following this idea, Inholland University has designed a small wind tunnel supported by the European project Fly High 518156-LLP-1-2011-1-ATCOMENIUS-CMP. The main goal was to make accessible to primary and secondary school students some of the tools normally linked with the high-level research field. The possibility of doing experiments related to fluid dynamics brings to the professor the opportunity of teaching complex physics in a funny and practical way and to introduce the student in the scientific field.

The pieces of wood that composed the wind tunnel, together with an instruction manual, were received by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and Deutsche Schule Madrid (DSM). These two institutions collaborated in the construction of the tunnel, developing a detailed description of the pieces assembly and the extra materials acquired, necessary to the proper tunnel construction. The electronics necessary to perform experimental measurements contained two gauges, capable to measure force in two different spatial directions. They were also provided by Inholland University. Two different models of NACA airfoils were first designed using a CAD program and later obtained using a 3D printer in order to perform the experiments.

Finally, experimental measurements were performed in DSM with medium age children (12-14 ages). The measurements were carried out at different inflow velocities and different angles of attack (AoA) of the NACA airfoil. Lift and drag forces were obtained using the gauges of the electronics kit. Lift and drag curves were obtained as function of the AoA. The importance of these two forces in the principles of flight and their relationship was explained to the students, who enjoyed the experience and were motivated to continue getting into the scientific field.