Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

what are the main differences between straight wings, swept wings, and delta wings?

Hey,

Straight wings are just straight rectangular shaped wings that are great for quick take off (such as on ships) and low speeds, swept wings have a more aerodynamic twist to them with less rectangular-like qualities and are designed for highspeeds such as supersonic flight (super fast flying), lastly, delta wings are triangular shape wings that perform poorly at low speeds and are often unstable.

The three are basically just contrasts of speed and figure. They each have their own weaknesses and strengths and perform more effectively under different conditions and/or terrain.

See these links for more information (has cool pictures ):
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay ... Tech11.htm
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay ... Tech10.htm

If you have any more questions, you know where to go!

The wings are angled back when the plane approaches supersonic speeds. Do some research on shock wave, boundary layer, laminar flow, turbulant flow, and the aerodynamics of supersonic flight.

The delta wing is just a swept back wing that has the "trailing" edges meeting in the middle.

Robert Reavis