guided tours of the bga

5/19/2018 Guided Tours of the BGA

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http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/guided.htm 1/4

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The Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics (BGA) was created as a Web-based "textbook." The creation of the BGA is aresearch project to explore the use of the personal computer and the Internet to present educational materials to students,teachers, and lifelong learners in a more interactive way than a printed, bound textbook.

As a general rule, the Web c onsists of many individual pagesthat are connected, or related, to one another throughhyperlinks. The Web is, therefore, much less structured than a bound book, in which one page follows another in adefinite, numbered sequence. We have intentionally organized the BGA to mirror this unstructured approach. Users cannavigate the pages of the BGA through hyperlinks based on their own interest and inquiry.

For those who prefer more structure to the information available at the BGA, we have organized an alternative to theunstructured approach--a number of guided tours through the site. Each tour is organized around a single topic, and usersmove from page to page through the tour by using special buttons at the bottom of each page.

Clic k to mov e back t o t he prev ious page.

Click to move to the next page.

Click to return to this page at the end of each tour.

(Some pages will be "crossed" by more than one tour, so it is important to remember which tour you are on. If you click ona hyperlink you will leave the tour you can rejoin the tour by using the browser's "Back" command. If you wish to abort atour and return here, just click on the "Guided Tours" label located above the buttons. )

All of the tours begin and end on this page unless otherwise noted. Descriptions of each tour are given below--just click onthe name of the tour to start you on your way. Have fun!

Fundamentals

Newton's Laws of Motion The motion of aircraft can be accurately described by the classical Laws of Motiondeveloped by Sir Isaac Newton in the late 1600's.Forces, Torques, and Motion As an object moves through space it translates and rotates. The translations are indirect response to forces on the object. The rotations are in response to torques on the object.Thermodynamics Thermodynamics is the study of the effects of work, heat and energy on a system. There arethree laws of thermodynamics based on large scale observations.CombustionModern aircraft are powered by jet engines which produce thrust by burning a fuel. Combustion is thechemical process which combines fuel, oxygen, and a source of heat to produce heat and exhaust products.Basic Fluid Dynamics Equations The motion of any fluid can be described by the conservation of mass,momentum, and energy.

Compressible AerodynamicsAdditional forces are present when an object travels through a gas at speeds near orfaster than the speed of sound for the gas. Shock waves may also be present in the flow field.Aircraft WeightWeight is a major design consideration for all aircraft. Equations have been developed to computethe aircraft's weight and center of gravity during design.

Gases

Standard Atmosphere Model The atmosphere is a thin layer of gas that separates the surface of the planet fromouter space. The properties of the gas change with altitude through the atmosphere.Gas Statics The properties of a gas are related to one another. You can learn about the properties of a gas byconsidering a static volume of gas.Speed of SoundSmall disturbances in a gas are transmitted at the speed of sound which depends on thetemperature of the gas. The Mach number is the ratio of an object's speed to the speed of sound.Sound Waves Small disturbances in a gas are transmitted through the gas as spherical waves. If the source of the

disturbance is moving the waves are distorted.Shock Waves and ExpansionsA large disturbance in a supersonic flow generates shock waves or expansion fans.Shock waves are small regions where the pressure, temperature and density increase. Expansions are regionswhere the pressure, temperature, and density decrease.Pitot-Static Tube A Pitot-Static Tube is a device for measuring the speed of an aircraft through the air. It dependson an application of Bernoulli's equation for a moving fluid.Wind TunnelsWind Tunnels are large devices used to test models of proposed aircraft. (This tour does not return
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/airsim.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/combst1.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/combst1.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/thermo.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/newton.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/index.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/news/highlights/index.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/highlights/index.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/index.htmlhttp://mynasa.nasa.gov/portal/site/mynasa/index.jsp?bandwidth=highhttp://www.nasa.gov/about/career/index.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/contact_us.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/pitot.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/airsim.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/oblique.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/news/highlights/index.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/highlights/index.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/combst1.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/thermo.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/index.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/gasprop.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/sndwave.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/weight1.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/index.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/newton.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/tunnel1.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/about/career/index.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/index.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/newton2.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/gasprop.htmlhttp://mynasa.nasa.gov/portal/site/mynasa/index.jsp?bandwidth=highhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/sound.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/mass.html


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to this page)

Powered Aircraft

Forces on an AirplaneThere are four forces that act on an airplane. The motion of an aircraft depends on therelative magnitude of the forces. So you must first understand what the forces are, how they are directed, the natureof the forces, and how they are related.Cruising Aircraft If the four forces on an aircraft are perfectly balanced, the aircraft flies in a straight line at a

constant speed. Equations have been developed which describe cruising flight.Into the WindThe aerodynamic forces on an airplane depend on the difference in velocity between the airplane andthe air. Determining the forces and resulting motion is complicated by the wind.Parts of an AirplaneAirplanes are composed of many parts with many different functions. Learn to recognize andidentify the different parts of an airplane.

FuselageThe fuselage (or body) of the airplane holds all of the parts together and carries the passengers orcargo.Jet EnginesMost modern aircraft are powered by gas turbine, or jet engines.Wings The wings generate most of the lift necessary for flight.AileronsAilerons are parts of the wing which are used to roll the aircraft.SpoilersSpoilers are parts of the wing which are used to roll the aircraft and to decrease lift and increasedrag during landings.Flaps and SlatsFlaps and Slats are parts of the wing which are used during take off and landing to increaselift and drag.

Elevators Elevators are control surfaces connected to the horizontal stabilizer and are used to pitch theaircraft.Stabilators Stabilators are control surfaces which provide both horizontal stability and pitch control for theaircraft.Rudder A Rudder is a control surface connected to the vertical stabilizer and used to yaw the aircraft.

Control SurfacesOn a modern aircraft, there are several moving parts which are used to control the motion of theaircraft. This tour examines these parts and the resulting motion.

Gliders

Forces on a GliderGliders are unpowered aircraft. The forces on gliders and the response to external forces isquite similar to powered aircraft. Examples:paper airplanes and the Space ShuttleGliding FlightGliders are unpowered aircraft. The flight of a glider is a little easier to analyze than the flight of apowered aircraft

Kites

Forces on a Kite Kites are unpowered aircraft. They are very similar to gliders except that, instead of movingthrough air, a kite is held still and the blowing air moves past the kite.Kite FlyingYou can learn a great deal about aerodynamics by flying a kite.KiteModeler - Kite Simulator KiteModeler is an interactive computer program that lets you design and flight test akite.

Model Rockets

Forces on a Model Rocket The forces on a model rocket are similar to forces on an aircraft although the thrust isused to overcome weight.Stability of a Model Rocket A model rocket relies on aerodynamics to provide stability during flight.Flight of a Model Rocket The flight of a model rocket depends on the relative size of the forces on the rocket.

^MParts of a Model Rocket Flying model rockets is a relatively safe and inexpensive way for students to learn aboutaerodynamics and propulsion.

Model Rocket EnginesDisposable solid rocket engines are used in model rockets.RocketModeler - Model Rocket Simulator RocketModeler is an interactive computer program that lets you designand flight test a model rocket.

Other Flying Objects

Falling ObjectsAn object falling through the atmosphere is subjected to two forces, weight and drag, and attains aconstant terminal velocity. If the object were falling in a vacuum, only gravity would act on the object.Objects that Generate Lift Many objects generate lift as they move through a fluid.CurveBall - Baseball SimulationA big league baseball player can throw a curveball because of aerodynamicforces on the ball. Investigate the forces on the ball by using this simulation program.

Aircraft Lift

Theories of Lift Lift is the force that keeps an aircraft flying. Many theories for the generation of lift have beenproposed.Factors that Affect Lift Lift is the force that keeps an aircraft flying. There are many factors that affect the amountof lift generated by a body.
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Lift Equation Lift is the force that keeps an aircraft flying. There is a simple algebraic equation to relate the factorsthat affect lift.FoilSim - Lift SimulatorFoilSim is an interactive computer program that lets you design a wing on-line anddetermine the theoretical lift of the wing.

Aircraft Drag

Sources of DragDrag is the force that opposes the motion of an object through the air. There are several different

sources of aircraft drag.Factors that Affect Drag Drag is the force that opposes an aircraft's motion. There are many factors that affect theamount of drag generated by a body.Drag EquationDrag is the force that opposes the aircraft's motion . There is a simple algebraic equation to relatethe factors that affect drag.

Aircraft Thrust

Propulsion SystemsThrust is the force that pushes an airplane through the air. There are many different types ofpropulsion systems which generate thrust.

Propellers For the forty years following the Wright Brothers first flight, aircraft used propellers to producethrust. Modern general aviation aircraft still use propellers.Jet EnginesMost modern aircraft are powered by gas turbine, or jet engines. There are several differenttypes of jet engines which are used for different missions.

Turbojets The turbojet is the most basic type of gas turbine engine.Afterburning TurbojetsTo develop the extra thrust needed for supersonic flight, an afterburner isoften connected to the exit of a turbojet or turbofan engine.TurbofansMost modern airliners are powered by highly efficient turbofan engines.TurbopropsMany small commuter airliners use highly efficient turboprop engines. The turboprop usesa gas turbine engine to turn a propeller.

RamjetsA ramjet engine produces thrust by burning a fuel at high pressure and exhausting the gas through anozzle. The high pressure is produced by the forward speed of the vehicle.RocketsA rocket engine produces thrust by burning a fuel at high pressure and exhausting the gas through anozzle. The oxygen for combustion is carried with the propulsion system.

Parts of a Jet Engine Jet Engines are composed of many parts with many different functions. Learn to recognizeand identify the different parts of a jet engine.

InletThe inlet sits upstream of the compressor and brings air into the engine.CompressorThe compressor increases the pressure of the air while delivering it to the burner.

Combustor or BurnerCombustion of the fuel takes place in the burner. Fuel is mixed with high pressure airfrom the compressor and burned.Power TurbineThe power turbine sits downstream of the burner and extracts some energy from the hotexhaust to power the compressor.Nozzle The nozzle is a specially shaped tube which accelerates the hot exhaust gas to produce thrust.

Thrust EquationMathematical equations have been developed which describe the generation of aircraft thrust.Calculating Fuel Flow RateMathematical equations have been developed which describe the fuel usage of a jetengine.EngineSim - Engine SimulatorEngineSim is an interactive computer program that lets you design a turbineengine on-line and determine the theoretical thrust, fuel flow, and weight of your engine.

Aircraft Motion

Basic Aircraft MotionThe motion of an airplane through the air can be described as a combination of translationand rotation.Cruising Flight If the four forces on an aircraft are perfectly balanced, the aircraft flies in a straight line at aconstant speed.Aircraft Roll Motion A roll motion is caused by deflecting the ailerons which causes the wings tips to move up anddown.Aircraft Pitch Motion A pitch motion is caused by deflecting the elevators which causes the aircraft nose to moveup and down.Aircraft Yaw Motion A yaw motion is caused by deflecting the rudder which causes the aircraft nose to move sideto side.Banking TurnsAn airplane changes direction by rolling in the direction of the turn and producing a gradual curvedflight path.Gradual ClimbAn airplane climbs whenever the lift is greater than the weight. The rate of climb is increased byhigh excess thrust.

Simulation Programs

FoilSim - Lift SimulatorFoilSim is an interactive computer program that lets you design a wing on-line anddetermine the theoretical lift of the wing.EngineSim - Engine SimulatorEngineSim is an interactive computer program that lets you design a turbineengine on-line and determine the theoretical thrust, fuel flow, and weight of your engine.CurveBall - Baseball SimulationA big league baseball player can throw a curveball because of aerodynamic
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/turbine.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/rotations.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/turns.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/nozzle.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/rotations.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/propeller.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/fuelfl.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/aturba.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/foil2.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/aturbp.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/aturbj.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/burner.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/lifteq.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/inlet.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/ngnsim.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/drageq.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/climb.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/rocket.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/drag1.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/ramjet.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/foil2.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/ngnsim.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/aturbf.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/powturb.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/turbparts.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/thrsteq.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/bmotion.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/rotations.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/drag1.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/thrust1.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/compress.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/cruise.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/foil2b.html


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forces on the ball. Investigate the forces on the ball by using this simulation program.RangeGamesRangeGames is an interactive computer program that presents problems for you to solve. Theproblems involve aspects of cruising flight and aircraft take-off.RocketModeler - Model Rocket Simulator RocketModeler is an interactive computer program that lets you designand flight test a model rocket.KiteModeler - Kite Simulator KiteModeler is an interactive computer program that lets you design and flight test akite.Atmosphere Model Simulator This interactive computer program lets you study how the properties of the

atmosphere change with altitude.Mach and Speed of Sound CalculatorThis interactive computer program computes speed of sound and the Machnumber for a given vehicle speed and altitude using the standard atmosphere model.Sound Wave Simulator This interactive computer program lets you study how the doppler shift occurs and howMach waves are formed.Single Shock Wave Simulator This interactive computer program lets you study a shock wave generated bysupersonic flow passing a wedge.Multiple Shock Wave Simulator This interactive computer program lets you study shock wave interactions and thegeneration of centered expansion fans.Isentropic Flow Calculator This interactive computer program solves the isentropic flow equations for a variety ofinputs. It also calculates the Mach angle, Prandtl-Meyer angle and corrected airflow.Nozzle SimulatorThis interactive computer program lets you study how rocket and turbine engine nozzles operate.

Presentations

Topics in Aerodynamics and PropulsionPower Point presentations prepared for teachers and students.

Navigation ..

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Editor: Tom BensonNASA Official: Tom BensonLast Updated: Jun 12 2014+ Contact Glenn
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/index.htmlhttp://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/hotline.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/atmosi.htmlhttp://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codee/nofear.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/shortk.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Management.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/Wright/airplane/shortw.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/index.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/ngnsimr.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/oblique.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/shortp.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/kiteprog.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/shortr.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/isentrop.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/sndwave.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/ienzl.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/crosshock.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/about/budget/index.htmlhttp://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/FOIA/agency/http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/topics.htmhttp://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/contact_us.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/mach.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/shortc.htmlhttp://www.firstgov.gov/http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/rktsim.htmlhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/short.html

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