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Cornell University

CLASSE

CLASSE stands for Cornell Laboratory for Accelerator-based ScienceS and Education

PHYS 1205: The Physics of Sailing

This course teaches quantitative reasoning by combining the science and technology of sailboats with an outdoors experience of its practical application. A basic mathematics and physics education is a prerequisite. Topics will include: wind power, boat types, sail plans, winches and pulleys; keels; propelling and resistive forces; water waves and hull speed; real and apparent wind velocity; the wind rose; weather formations; heaving to and storm techniques; knots and why they work; and water waves. Experimental projects performed on Cayuga Lake include measuring phase and group velocities, the wind rose, and the hull speed, to compare to data sheets.

Syllabus and Class Notes

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