Standard

AMT 121 - Aviation Physics

Course Description

Provides students with an introduction to the theory and application of physics to aerospace vehicles and their subsystems. Topics include: temperature and heat; pressure, temperature, and volume of air mass; basic aerodynamics and theory of flight; physical factors affecting engine output; relationship of pressure, area, and force; origin of sound; principles of simple machines; and centrifugal and centripetal force.

Competency Areas		Hours
Temperature and Heat		Class	3
Pressure, Temperature, and Volume of Air Mass		D. Lab	0
Basic Aerodynamics and Theory of Flight		P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Physical Factors Affecting Engine Output		Credit	3
Relationship of Pressure, Area, and Force
Origin of Sound
Principles of Simple Machines
Centrifugal and Centripetal Force
Prerequisite:	Provisional admission
Corequisite:

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
TEMPERATURE AND HEAT		4	0	0
Heat	Define heat.
Temperature	Define temperature.
Heat transfer	Describe methods of heat transfer. Give examples of heat transfer in aircraft.
PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE, AND VOLUME OF AIR MASS		4	0	0
Gas laws	Solve appropriate gas law problems related to aircraft cylinders.
Atmosphere	Discuss the effects of atmosphere on aircraft powerplants, cabin atmosphere, aircraft structure, and aircraft performance.
	Apply general gas law to pressure, volume, and temperature changes.
BASIC AERODYNAMICS AND THEORY OF FLIGHT		4	0	0
Airfoils	Sketch an airfoil and diagram air flow patterns.
Bernoulli's principle	Define Bernoulli's principle.
	Discuss the effects of air density and temperature changes on aircraft performance.
PHYSICAL FACTORS AFFECTING `ENGINE OUTPUT		4	0	0
Work	Define work.
Power	Define power. Describe the effects of air density on engine power.
RELATIONSHIP OF PRESSURE, AREA, AND FORCE		4	0	0
Pressure, area, and force	Solve applicable hydraulic and pneumatic problems involving pressure, area, and force.
Incompressibility of liquids	Draw sketches of a simple hydraulic system.
ORIGIN OF SOUND		4	0	0
Sound propagation	Explain the nature of sound and frequency.
Measurement, control of sound levels, and sound speeds	Discuss machine numbers and decibel levels.
PRINCIPLES OF SIMPLE MACHINES		4	0	0
Simple machines	Demonstrate uses of simple machines.
CENTRIFUGAL AND CENTRIPETAL FORCE		2	0	0
Newton's laws of motion	Apply Newton's three laws to examples in aviation.
Angular velocity	Label a diagram to illustrate centrifugal and centripetal force.

Suggested Resources

Books

Dole, C. E. (1987). Mathematics and physics for aviation personnel (2nd ed.). Casper, WY: IAP.

IAP, Inc. (1976). Airframe and powerplant mechanics general handbook. Casper, WY: Author.

Kroes, M. J., et al. (1988). Aircraft basic science (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.