Comment on xkcd #3161: Airspeed
Sure you can. Just need a pitot tube!
The Pitot tube doesn’t work as the ballon is moving (more or less) with the wind, i.e. both pressure tubes in the Pitot tube are measuring (almost) the same pressure, resulting in measuring (almost) zero velocity.
It records an air speed of 0. Isn’t that working exactly as intended?
Isn’t one usually interested in the speed relative to the ground?
No. The comic is talking about airspeed: speed relative to the wind.
Successful_Try543@feddit.org 1 day ago
The Pitot tube doesn’t work as the ballon is moving (more or less) with the wind, i.e. both pressure tubes in the Pitot tube are measuring (almost) the same pressure, resulting in measuring (almost) zero velocity.
chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 1 day ago
It records an air speed of 0. Isn’t that working exactly as intended?
Successful_Try543@feddit.org 1 day ago
Isn’t one usually interested in the speed relative to the ground?
chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 1 day ago
No. The comic is talking about airspeed: speed relative to the wind.