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At 18:51 03/12/2006, David L. Smith wrote:

>Lots more correct info can be found at
>http://amasci.com/wing/airfoil.html

'Explanations' sometimes seem like translations from mathematical 
language into spoken language and no translation can ever be perfect. 
A clearer understanding of something written in a foreign language 
comes from thinking about several different translations.

We often mislead visitors into asking, "What's THE explanation?" As 
if there were only one! This bothers me. Hearing some quick-and-easy 
recital of 'the explanation' is too often an excuse for people to 
stop thinking and wondering.

Thankfully, good exhibits balance 'explanation' with exploration, 
experimentation and experience. Instead of just nodding politely and 
pretending to understand, visitors need to rearrange and play with 
the apparatus and FEEL the forces...

And I think it's good for us to continue to be amazed that a jumbo 
jet and a fish can fly. If we don't feel the emotion, how can we 
communicate it?


[log in to unmask] * http://www.interactives.co.uk
*
Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
*
Ian Russell 

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