Most people know what aerodynamics is. Aerodynamics, however, isn’t the only force that affects the movement of a vehicle or vessel. Hydrodynamics plays a big role in the way humans study the flow of water.
When it comes to hydrodynamics versus aerodynamics, you might be wondering what the difference is. Read on to find out!
Principles of Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is the study of forces and the resulting motion of objects through the air, in other words, aerodynamics studies how much of an effect wind has on an object when it is moving.
Aerodynamics is important, as it allows engineers to make suitable designs for these vehicles so that air doesn’t affect the performance of the vehicle. A world without aerodynamics would mean a world without cars, airplanes, and lots of modes of transport.
There are four principles in aerodynamics: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Each of these forces makes an object move up or down, or faster or slower.
History of Aerodynamics
In 1799, Sir George Cayley invented the first successful human glider and, in turn, discovered the four principles. He is accredited with inventing the modern-day airplane.
Aerodynamics has, of course, has evolved by leaps and bounds since then, and these same principles allowed NASA to be able to put a human on the moon for the first time.
What Is Hydrodynamics?
Hydrodynamics, although similar to aerodynamics, it’s not the same. Hydrodynamics is the study of how the motion of fluids affects solid bodies immersed in fluids. In other words, it’s the study of how a ship or vessel acts in water when the water applies force to the ship.
The study of Hydro Dynamics allows engineers to correctly design the hull of a ship so it can withstand storms or high seas. Without this, a ship would topple over at any sign of a wave and not be able to float.
Hydrodynamics is also the study of any liquid in motion. Without it, a simple hydraulic system would cease to exist. Hydrodynamics can be applied to any liquid in our everyday lives.
Aerodynamics Vs. Hydrodynamics
If aerodynamics deals with the motion of air and hydrodynamics deal with the motion of liquids, they cant be applied to one another. They both fall under the same field of fluid dynamics and are equally important in today’s world.
Both can be applied together, for instance in kiteboarding. Kiteboarding uses both air and water to get going. The resistance of air on the kite and the resistance of the board in the water needs to be taken into account when designing a new kiteboard.
You Need Both!
When it comes down to it, you need both. Aerodynamics and hydrodynamics are close but not nearly the same thing. The study of both is needed in the world and more research is needed so that humans can fully understand both dynamics fully.
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