Material Detail

Compressible Aerodynamics Calculator

Compressible Aerodynamics Calculator



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Ethan Wright
Ethan Wright (Student)
13 years ago
How you reviewed the materials:

The calculator was demonstrated for us in class once, and I also used it

The quality of content:

It was very helpful in relating the effect of different input to the output. It
helped me to pick up on the relations of the properties. By using different
input and raising and lowering them, I was able to relate them more easily and
understand that, e.g. "if I take this pressure ratio up, the mach numbers get
closer together."

The potential effectiveness for enhancing teaching and learning:

I think it was very helpful when used in the classroom, and can be utilized that
way in almost any class working with aerodynamics.

The ease of using the materials:

This was the only problem I had with the applet. Though inputting numbers was
easy, I felt the output could have been better labeled so that it was easier to
figure out what all of the numbers and ratios referred to. As someone who isn't
real familiar with aerodynamics, and had only used the application once in class
before I tested it myself, initially I couldn't remember what it all stood for.
Used in course? Yes
Jason Frederick
Jason Frederick (Student)
13 years ago

How you reviewed the materials

I was introduced to the website in the classroom as a teaching aide. The instructor used it to help the student be able to visualize the immense heat needed in a jet engine to propel the rocket.

Quality of content

The applet is very helpful for the student that is not a rocket scientist. The applet takes all of the guess work out of finding some temperatures and pressures. It is rather helpful and in the manner used to present the material to the class it was very helpful in my visualizing the effects of the Mach number and the temperature.

Potential effectiveness for enhanced teaching and learning

This applet has the potential ability to be very effective in the academic setting. When introduced in my classroom it helped to connect the dots and made it much easier for the student to visualize the effects of a sonic boom as well as the immense temperature needed to propel a rocket into outer space. I can only imagine how helpful this applet would be if I were working in the field of gas dynamics.

Ease of using

The applet is very easy to use. The user just needs to enter the input data and hit calculate. The applet could not be any more strait forward.
Used in course? Yes
John Walkup
John Walkup (Staff)
19 years ago
Calculates various physical properties of compressible fluids for specific input. Not intuitive at all, but for those that regularly work in this field this could be a time-saving applet. Of limited use to anyone else.