Question

What might you expect with a "laminar flow wing" vs "conventional wing"?

a) A laminar flow wing experiences reduced drag due to its longer maintenance of laminar flow over the wing surface compared to a conventional wing, despite both having similar stall characteristics.

b) A conventional wing is designed to maintain laminar flow for a longer period, leading to decreased drag as it starts transiting at approximately 40%-50% back on the wing, whereas a laminar flow wing initiates transition around 25-30%, resulting in better stall characteristics.

c) A laminar flow wing and a conventional wing both prioritize reducing drag; however, a laminar flow wing's transitional point occurs earlier at around 25-30% back on the wing, while the conventional wing's transition begins around 40%-50%, impacting their stall characteristics differently.

d)The primary difference between a laminar flow wing and a conventional wing lies in their drag reduction techniques, with the laminar flow wing initiating transition earlier (25-30% back on the wing) compared to the conventional wing (40%-50%), thereby influencing their respective stall characteristics.

Answer 1

A laminar flow wing experiences less drag due to its ability to maintain laminar flow over a larger portion of the wing compared to a conventional wing. Transition to turbulent flow occurs later for a laminar flow wing, starting around 25-30% back on the wing's surface.

Step-by-step explanation:

When comparing a laminar flow wing with a conventional wing, we would expect the laminar flow wing to experience reduced drag due to its ability to maintain laminar flow over a more significant portion of the wing surface. In contrast, a conventional wing typically experiences transition to turbulent flow at an earlier stage, which is usually around the 40%-50% chord position from the leading edge back.

Laminar flow is characterized by the smooth, orderly motion of air layers that do not mix, leading to lower drag. Conversely, turbulent flow involves mixing of air layers, leading to increased resistance and higher drag. Thus, a laminar flow wing can provide more efficient flight under certain conditions due to its extended region of laminar flow.

However, it is essential to note that the stall characteristics may be similar between the two types of wings, despite the differences in drag coefficient and flow transition points. The design of a laminar flow wing attempts to delay the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, which occurs roughly at 25-30% back on the wing surface, thereby reducing aerodynamic drag efficiently in the earlier phases of the flight.