a glider is powered by wind, a flying machine has a moter to run it
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A glider is an unpowered aircraft that flies by exploiting the natural forces of lift in the atmosphere. A flying machine typically refers to any aircraft that is capable of sustained flight, whether powered or unpowered. In essence, all gliders are flying machines, but not all flying machines are gliders.
The center of gravity for a glider is typically located near the wing's midpoint. This is to ensure proper balance and stability during flight. Pilots carefully adjust the position of the payload and ballast to maintain the appropriate center of gravity for safe flying.
Convection on a glider works by exploiting rising air currents created by the sun heating the Earth's surface. Gliders can gain altitude by flying in these rising air masses, known as thermals, which provide lift without the need for an engine. Pilots can use this natural phenomenon to prolong their flights and reach higher altitudes.
In flight, a glider is primarily affected by lift force, which is generated by the airflow over its wings. Gravity also acts on the glider, providing weight, which is opposed by the lift force. Drag, created by air resistance, also affects the glider by slowing it down.
Glider pilots gain altitude by circling over a large plowed field because a plowed area gives off heat. Heat rises so the glider takes advantage of that to gain altitude.
The independent variable of a glider experiment could be the angle of the glider's wings, the weight added to the glider, or the type of material used to construct the glider. These are factors that can be manipulated or changed by the researcher to observe how they affect the glider's performance.