Sunday, April 1, 2007

Flight and Reflection of the Intersession

Intersession is over and it is very sad... I miss it already. On Friday we flew in a variety of planes, mine being the Twin Bonanza (Banana, he he he. Just imagine it) IT ROCKED MY SOCKS MAN! It was my first airplane flight ever, that I remember anyway! ( I flew on a plane when I was really little) I got to videotape most of the flight, and I got some really cool shots, check out the link to Mr. Shulman's blog and if I'm lucky he might have the videos already up.

Reflection on the Intersession:
This intersession is so great! It made my hair grow! In only 2 weeks!
Okay seriously. This intersession was great. I learned so much on how an airplane works, how an airfoil works, World War I and II planes, how rockets work, and what it feels like to fly. This intersession was great, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Launching The Rockets!

wOOt! Today we launched the rockets that we built this week! IT WAS AWESOME! If you want to see some pictures of the launches, please go to the link to Mr. Shulman's blog in the upper-right corner.

1. What was common with all our launches?
I think what was common with all our launches is that we all used rockets for one, two, when they launched they went up into the air, and three... they were all pretty??

2. Why did some launches/ rockets fail?
Mine failed, and I think the reason mine "Longdarted" was because I tucked the streamer in too much. After I examined my rocket, I discovered that the streamer had been pushed out a little.

3. Bonus! How did we use each step of the scientific method in our rocket building and launching process.
We created an ANGLE OF ATTACK.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

The Past and Building of Rockets

Today, we have been creating model rockets we will launch at Fiesta Island on Thursday. We learned about how rockets came to be, from the Chinese fire arrows, to the Russian Sputnik, to Spaceship 1, to the rockets we all love and know today. Did you know it takes 2000lbs of fuel in a rocket to take 1lb of payload into space?! Imagine your weight and how much fuel it would take to put you into space? (Italian Accent) That's-a lot-a fuel-a!

(1.)2000lbs of fuel+ 1 lb of payload.
"X" lbs of fuel= 400000lbs of payload.
"X"=800000000lbs of fuel! WOW!

(2.) Off the Nar model rocket safety code, write down all 11 rules.

1. Materials- I will use only lightweight, non-metal parts for the nose, body, and fins of my rocket.

2. Motors- I will use only certified, commercially-made model rocket motors, and will not tamper with these motors or use them for any purposes except those recommended by the manufacturer.

3. Ignition System- I will launch my rockets with an electrical launch system and electrical motor igniter.

4. Launch Safety- I will use a countdown before launch, and will ensure that everyone is paying attention and is a safe distance of at lease 15 feet away when I launch rockets with D motors or smaller, and 30 feet when I launch larger rockets.

5. Misfires- If my rocket does not launch when I press the button of my electrical launch system, I will remove the launcher's safety interlock or disconnect it's battery before allowing anyone to approach the rocket.

6. Launcher- I will launch my rocket from a launch rod, tower, or rail to ensure that the rocket flies nearly straight up. I will use a blast deflector to prevent the motor's exaust from hitting the ground, and I will cap the end of my launch rod when it is not in use.

7. Size- If my model rocket weighs more than one pound (453 grams) at liftoff or has more power than a single G motor, I will check and comply with the Federal Aviation Administration regulations before flying.

8. Flight Safety- I will not launch my rocket at targets or near airplanes, and will not put any flammable or explosive payload in my rocket.

9. Launch Site- I will laucnh my rocket outdoors, in an open area and in safe weather conditions, (*LITTLE OR NO WIND) and will ensure that there is no dry grass close to the launch pad (*OR IN THE FLYING FIELD)

10. Recovery System- I will use a recovery system such as a stramer or parachute in my rocket so that it returns safely and undamaged and can be used again, and I wull use only flame-resistant or fireproof recovery system wadding in my rocket.

11. Recovery Safety- I will not attempt to recover my rocket from power lines, tall trees, or other dangerous places.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Magnetic poles, Wings, and Airplane simulation day

Today we used Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 to simulate the feeling of being in the cockpit of a Cessna Airplane.

Here is a sample picture of a Cessna in Microsoft Flight simulator 2004.















Homework:
1. What is the difference between True North and Magnetic North?
True North is the direction of the Earth's north pole, while Magnetic North is the direction of Earth's magnetic pole.

2. What is the Attitude Gyro for?
The Attitude gyro represents the aircraft attitude, or the pitch and bank, using one or two gyroscopes for reference.

3. Define "Airfoil."
The airfoil is a shape designed to "cut" through the air.

4. 1 Nautical mile= 1.15 statue miles
"X" Nautical miles= 35.5 statue miles.
X=About 30.87

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Flight navigating and tools

Homework:

1. 1 Nautical mile= 1.15 statue miles. 5000 nautical miles= _____ statue miles

5000 x 1.15= 5750 statue miles

2. Reflect on this past week...
What did you learn, like, love, hate, and want to change?

This past week in "Wanted:Rocket Scientists" was great!! I asked a lot of people about their intersessions and they don't really like them. I always see other kids stare at us as we go outside to test our airplanes or other things we build. I loved creating the airplanes out of balsa and Styrofoam, I learned about Center gravity (CG), World war airplanes, and how to design an airplane. I hated when my plane got stuck in a tree or when my plane didn't fly. I think what I would want to change is nothing!! THIS INTERSESSION ROCKS!!

Thursday, March 22, 2007

First day of the Aerospace Museum

Today was the first day of the Aerospace Museum. The questions we have to answer are...



1. What is Occam's Razor, and how can it be used in your life?



Occam's Razor is whenever one can remove the impossible, what remains however likely, [leads to] the truth. I could use this in my life in a game of Clue or if I was a detective, if a person is not even near the area at the time of the attack then they can't be judged as the killer, then I would keep doing that until I get the killer.



2. Why is Ruben H Fleet so important?



Ruben H Fleet was an aviation pioneer, and created the plane the "Fleet." He also founded the U.S. Air Mail service.



3. What does DATUM mean and what is the symbol?



Datum is the last known position (LKP) or current position. The position can move because of the drift, weather, movement of the person on land, or any other factors.

Here is a picture demonstrating a Datum and an LKP.












4. Why is the Red Baron's plane red?

The Red Baron's plane is red to intimidate and get attention from his enemies and allies alike. The Baron's Tri-plane was not the original plane that got him famous, it was actually the Albatros, the plane which the Baron got the most kills in, but he eventually moved on to the Tri-plane and painted it red to signify the Albatros' original color.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Bernoulli, Newton, Circulation, and Definitions

1. In words or drawings, tell me what the Bernoulli Effect, Newton Law, and the Circulation Theory is.

Bernoulli Effect












Newton Theory









Theory of Circulation












2. Define these terms.

Yaw- Nose left/right

Pitch- Nose up/down

Roll- Bank left/right

Dihedral- upward angle of horizontal wing creating an Angle of Attack!

Static- Analysis of loads

Dynamic- Effects of forces on the motion of objects

Aerodynamic-Forces generated on a body in a flow

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Center of Gravity and plane launch



Today in our Intersession, we were learning about creating airplanes and how center of gravity (CG) effects them. We created planes today, we first had a "stock" plane, very plain (no pun intended) and boring. Later we got to modify our planes (plains).

Today our homework questions are...

1. What did we improve/ not improve to our modifications?

I tried to improve my glider by adding a wing ring to the back. Unfortunately, I quickly found out that Styrofoam is not very flexible, but I got a cool wing square. I had some trouble gluing on the square, but I eventually did it. I also created some wing slicers on my main wing, but they ended up being destroyed very quickly. My plane did not go far in the airplane launch, but did very well in the "throwing off the third story" launch. After the 3rd throw, my wing square had snapped off one side and was very limp. I tried to fix it but eventually gave up and took it off to recycle it into a samuri hat. I think what I did wrong with the plane is that I had too much weight in the back, and so it was weighed down.

2. Observation- What did we do to follow the scientific method?

Question- If our planes do not follow the rules of the Bernoulli Effect, how are they still flying?

Hypothesis- I don't think that all planes have to follow that rule, I think that it just has to be held up by air to fly.

Experament- Throw planes off of 3rd story.

Conclusion- Our hypothesis is correct and incorrect! The plane does fly without slanted wings, but it still makes the air on the top accelerate.

Monday, March 19, 2007




Yeah I like Halo.

Wanted: Rocket Scientists

Today is the first day of intersession! Our homework is to...

1. What are the 4 forces of flight? And how do they help a plane fly?
Thrust, Drag, Lift, Weight/Gravity. Thrust helps a plane go forward. It is supported by propultion, for example; jet engines or propellers. Drag is a force that tries to keep the plane from going faster or forward. Lift is what puts the plane up into the air and keeps it up there. Weight or gravity, keeps the plane down, forcing the plane to resist gravity to go up.

2. What is your definition of flight?
My definition of flight is something held up by air. An example is gliding, the object is not doing anything to go, but the air keeps it up.

3. In journal

4. In journal

Wednesday, March 14, 2007


YO!

I like CloneTroopers! They rock! Their white armor, T-shaped visor, shaped helmet, hard attitude, blue lasers! ITS AWESOME! Check them out!
Woot! Yeah, I like the episode two troopers, but the episode threes... MEH!