In grade 6 science, I learned about the forces of flight.
I wondered, could Santa's sled really fly?
Lift - Lift is provided by the curved rails on the front of the sleigh. Air traveling over the top of of the curved rails flows faster than the air slowing underneath the flat skis. The fast flowing air passing over the rails has lower pressure than the air under the skis. The difference in pressure creates lift.
Thrust - On an airplane, thrust is produced by the propeller. Santa's sleigh, however, is powered by 8 reindeer.
Weight - This is a bit of problem, because Santa is well known to be a jolly old soul with a round belly due to his diet of milk and cookies. Plus, there's the presents.
Drag - this is the force opposing the thrust provided by the reindeer. The presents and the reindeer's horns and legs and are sources of drag. Drag can be reduced by storing the presents in the rear of the sleigh and by hitching the reindeer together in a line.
If the four forces of flight are balanced, then an object is able to fly. If the lift and the thrust of Santa's sleigh and reindeer are able to overcome the weight and the drag, then everyone gets presents delivered for Christmas.
This was a fun read Meritt. Grandpa wonders what the reindeer have for lift.
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