Physics and Natural Sciences
Pick a topic from life outside of class and apply the concepts of the physical sciences to it. It’s sort of like a mini paper on the way something works. Choose a topic to which you can apply concepts from this unit of the course: gravity, energy, temperature, thermodynamics, and Newton’s Laws.
The portfolio item should have the following sections:
-Topic (one paragraph maximum)
-Background concepts (150-300 words)
-Application of PHS100 concepts (include some diagrams if appropriate; 300-400 words)
-Works cited in APA format (and cited in-text throughout the portfolio)
Topic
Choose a topic as described in the above paragraph. Be sure it’s related to the physical sciences, and to the concepts we’re learning about during this unit. In a brief paragraph, tell me what your topic is, and maybe why you chose it.
Background Concepts
In several paragraphs, discuss the physical science concepts that you’ll be applying to your topic. Think about all of the concepts we’ve covered that apply to your topic, and write several paragraphs about them in general—without yet applying those concepts to your topic. Use your notes, lectures, and the textbook. If an online source helps you explain the concept, feel free to use that too—but be sure to cite it appropriately.
Application
Now take those physical science concepts and write 300-400 words about how they apply to your topic. Try to think through these yourself before looking up specifics, but feel free to use additional sources, being sure to cite them appropriately. This is the largest and most important section of the portfolio item, and should be thoughtful and well-written. This is where you tell me how the physical sciences relate to your topic. Make sure to relate every concept that you discussed in the background section to your topic.
Works cited
This is a brief section where you include all of the sources you cited, in proper APA format. Make sure you have at least four outside sources
Forces of Flight
The forces involved in the flight of aircraft include lift, thrust, drag, and gravity, which combine in action with Bernoulli’s Principle. In terms of physical science, it is crucial to understanding the working knowledge of principles of flight, understand the certain scientific principles that must be adhered to flight to occur as well as the forces that act on the aircraft and principles of propulsion.
Background
Aircraft operates in the air, which must be clearly understood through the knowledge of physical sciences, precisely the properties of air that affect the control and performance of the aircraft. According to physical sciences concepts, temperature, pressure, and altitude influence the forces of flights as the physical atmosphere is considered a fluid that has changing density, pressure, and temperature. Physical sciences also include aerodynamics, which is essential in explaining the motion of air and other gases as well as with the forces acting upon an object in motion through the air. Bernoulli’s principle in physical sciences relates the velocity of moving fluid and the pressure that acts on the aircraft and Newton’s Laws of motion that describes the influences of forces on an aircraft and Bernoulli’s principle leads to the creation of lift. These principles and analysis of forces affect the design and control of aircraft.
Application of PHS100 Concepts
Understanding physical sciences on the properties of air and the interaction of gases in the air with objects influence the types of materials used in the design and making of different aircraft and the maintenance of aircraft systems. Gas laws, fluid dynamics, and propagation of sound as studied in physical sciences enrich aerodynamics in establishing laws that determine forces acting on aircraft and its behavior in interaction with the atmosphere.
Lift is a force that is significant in studying the forces of flight as it gives an aircraft the ability to fly. Thrust is a force that provides a way in which to move the aircraft. Drag and weight are also essential forces applied in the flight of aircraft. These forces are applied in the aviation practical flight, design, and maintenance services. The knowledge of the forces proves essential by influencing the ways to control and use of power and flight controls in aircraft. Application of the principles of forces indicates that in an un-accelerated situation, the four forces are in equilibrium as the lift equalizes the weight, and thrust equalizes the drag. At this stage, changing any of the forces leads to climbs, descents, and maneuvers.
Bernoulli’s principle clearly shows that as the velocity of a moving fluid increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases. Bernoulli’s principle in an equation is represented as;
A1V1P1 = A2V2P2
Where A = Area, V = Velocity, and P = Pressure
With the assumption that the area is constant, it indicates that when the velocity of a fluid increases, the pressure will consequently decrease.
This principle is applied in aviation mechanics for the airfoil, where an upper surface which is rounded increases the velocity of the air, which causes pressure to decrease.
Pressure above the airfoil decreases, and the relative pressure below it is higher, which creates a pressure differential where the lift forces are the result. The efficiency of a wing is determined by checking the lift over drag ratio, which means there are different shapes of wings.
References
Vieira, D. R., Rebaiaia, M. L., & Chain, M. C. (2016). The application of reliability methods for aircraft design project management. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 6(9), 967-992.
Bravo-Mosquera, P. D., Cisneros-Insuasti, N. D., Mosquera-Rivadeneira, F., & Avendaño-Uribe, B. (2019). STEM Learning Based on Aircraft Design: An Interdisciplinary Strategy Developed to Science Clubs Colombia. Ciencia y Poder Aéreo, 14(1), 204-227.
Badrya, C., Govindarajan, B., & Chopra, I. (2018). Basic Understanding of Unsteady Airfoil Aerodynamics at Low Reynolds Numbers. In 2018 AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting (p. 2061).
McLean, D. (2018). Aerodynamic lift, part 1: The science. The Physics Teacher, 56(8), 516-520.
