Learning Module #1: Green Flight Challenge Design. Jim Bowlin RET 7-30-10. ERAU Concept #1. Electric Motor Solar film on wings. ERAU Concept #2. batteries. Fuel cells. Hydrogen tank. Fuel cell and hydrogen tank replaces small gasoline motor. Electric motor. batteries.
Jim Bowlin RET 7-30-10
Fuel cell and hydrogen tank replaces small gasoline motor
Batteries in the wing used for max power on take-off
-Pick a name for your “company” and assign tasks.
-Define the problem or goal.
-Present a preliminary design based on an existing glider.
-Select a green, efficient propulsion system, and explain why it is a good choice.
-Explain how your design will meet the competition requirements.
-Determine expected performance to include maximum speed, stall speed, power requirements, total aircraft weight, take-off distance.
-Estimate the cost of the project and show how you determined your cost.
-Make a poster of your preliminary design with important dimensions, parameters, and performance data.
-What are major issues with airlines as far as the environment?
-What can be done to make air travel more environmentally friendly and energy efficient?
-How could you increase lift and thrust and also decrease weight and drag for your design?
If the aircraft takes off at 5 mph greater than stall speed, how fast must it be going to meet the take-off distance requirement? Show your work and consider units.
If the aircraft starts from rest on the runway, how much time will it take to reach take-off speed?
Calculate the rate of acceleration. Show your work.
Draw a force diagram for the airplane as it rolls down the runway. Determine a reasonable value for rolling friction and calculate the other forces.
Based on your calculations, how much net force must the aircraft have to meet your acceleration requirement?
Does your motor provide enough thrust to reach take-off speed? Show your calculations and explain.
Draw a qualitative force diagram indicating all of the forces acting on the airplane in flight.
Assuming that the lift to drag ratio is the same as the glide ratio of the airplane, calculate the drag force on the airplane at the best glide speed.
Determine the thrust required for level flight at the best glide airspeed. Explain how you know.
Will your airplane fly in level flight at the best glide speed? Explain.
Determine the thrust required for the airplane to fly at 100 mph. Show your work.
Will your airplane fly in level flight at 100kts? Explain.
Determine the energy required for your airplane to go 200miles at an average speed of 100 mph. Show your work. There are several ways to calculate this.
-Proof of concept model for an electric airplane
-Module will augment units on electricity and Newton’s Laws
Small electric motors
Connectors and wires
Metal brackets (6-8 cm)
C – clamps
To take data for the cart:
-Motion detectors, photogates, camera or stopwatches
Design and construct an electrical circuit with a battery, motor, switch, ammeter and voltmeter. (SC.912.P.10.16: Explain the relationship between moving charges and magnetic fields, as well as changing magnetic fields and electric fields, and their application to modern technologies.)
Determine voltage, current, power, and energy usage of the circuit. (SC.912.P.10.15: Investigate and explain the relationships among current, voltage, resistance, and power.)
Represent the propulsion system of an energy efficient aircraft by mounting it on a dynamic cart. (SC.912.N.3.5: Describe the function of models in science, and identify the wide range of models used in science.)
Experimentally determine the thrust of the propulsion system. (SC.912.P.12.3: Interpret and apply Newton's three laws of motion. )
1. Draw an electrical circuit that includes an electric motor, battery and switch. Include a voltmeter and ammeter to measure voltage and current.
2. After your teacher has checked your circuit design, use the components provided to make the circuit. Mount the propeller on the motor and the motor on the metal bracket, then secure the bracket to the edge of the table with the C-clamp.
3. Determine voltage, current, and resistance of the circuit.
4. What is the power of the circuit? Show your work.
5. How much energy will be transferred by the circuit in 5 seconds? Show your work.
6. Would your answers to the above questions change if the propeller was replaced with a smaller propeller? Explain why or why not. Be specific.