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Hiram College  PO Box 1808  Hiram, Ohio 44234-1808    330-569-3211

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Hiram Weekend College
Aviation Weather - a non-lab science (physics)
PHYSICS 210-51

WEC - Spring 2010

Dates and Times; Fridays, January 15, 29; February 12, 26; March 12, 26; April 9.
6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Credit Hours:  4
Text: Aviation Weather - AC06

Grading
Three tests - 15% each totaling 45%
Attendance - 5%
Research Paper - 15%
Final Exam - 25%
Field Trip - 10%

Roger F. Cram
Office: 330-569-5104  Cell: 330-569-4912  Home: 330-569-7962
Adjunct faculty and FAA Flight Instructor

Syllabus

Session One:  January 15
Text: Chapter One - The Earth’s Atmosphere
Chapter Two - Temperature
Chapter Three - Atmospheric Pressure and Altimetry
Lecture: Introduction to course 
What is Air Pressure?
Aircraft wing and control surfaces (rudder, elevator, flaps, aleirons)
Airspeed vs. ground speed
         Aerodynamics - lift, thrust, weight, and drag, (roll, pitch, and yaw)             
Air Speed Vs. Ground Speed
Film: Flight

Session Two: January 29
Chapter Four - Wind, cross wind
Airport runway markings & compass points
Chapter Five - Moisture, Cloud Formation, and Precipitation
Lecture: Altimeters and Airspeed Indicators
Film: Runway incursions - human failure
One hour exam on Session One and Two -Take home, due next class
Film: Storm Chasers

Session Three: February 12
Research paper issued - minimum 3 pages, double spaced, 750 words
(Weather related aircraft accident)
Chapter Six - Stable and Unstable Air
Chapter Seven – Clouds
Lecture: IFR/VFR/Flight Directions/Density Altitude/Altimeter Settings
Film: Coriolis Effect & Satellite Views
Activity:  Pizza Party

Session Four: February 26
Airspeed Indicator and Altimeter operation
Chapter Eight - Air Masses and Fronts
Go over first test - review air pressure, ground speed and air speed
Lecture: Aircraft Performance Factors
Film: Tornado, Hurricane, and Flood               

Session Five:  March 12
Field Trip: Portage County Airport - inspect various aircraft - tour LifeFlight helicopter - SR 44 - north of Ravenna - meet in class first
330-298-3277 - 4039 Nanway Boulevard, Ravenna, OH 44266
Text: Chapter Nine – Turbulence
Chapter Ten - Icing
Chapter Eleven - Thunderstorms
Lecture: Thunderstorms
Lecture: Forecasting the Weather
Weather Charts
Test: One-hour exam on Session Three, Four and Five - take home, due next class
Film:  Aircraft Accidents

Session Six:  March 26
Take-home final exams issued - to be turned in last class
Field Trip - Tour of the Cleveland Hopkins Control Tower and Radar Room (must clear security)
Meet at 6:00 pm at the Information Desk at Cleveland Hopkins Airport - Bring Photo ID
Dinner at the 100th Bomber Squadron Restaurant   (optional)

Session Seven: April 9
Field Trip: Garrettsville Library Park playground at the merry-go-round - meet in class first.
Final exams collected
Film: Global Warming
Activity: Appetizers Party (optional)

PowerPoint Aviation Weather presentations used in class
(allow time to load)

Hiram Weekend College
Aviation Weather
Spring 2010 - Test One
January 29, 2010

NOTICE TO STUDENTS - THIS TEST HAS BEEN EMAILED TO YOUR HIRAM COLLEGE EMAIL ADDRESS
QUESTIONS: 330-569-4912 

PRINT Name ___________________________________________100 possible points

 SECTION ONE – Matching. 2 points each, total 22 possible points

A. Dew Point Temp.   B. Evaporation   C. Temperature    D. Air Pressure    E. Lightening    F. Condensation   G. Chamber   H. Cold air   I. Hot air    J. Dark, hanging, pouch-like clouds under a thunderstorm   K. Cold front

1. ____ Heavy, falls.
2. ____ When water atoms in the air are cooled, thus slowing down their vibration bringing them closer together until they can be seen.
3. ____ The molecular vibration of atoms.
4. ____ The weight of the air above you.
5. ____ You cannot have this without ice.
6. ____ When water atoms air are heated, thus speeding up their vibration making them farther apart until they cannot be seen.
7. ____ Advancing cold air on the earth’s surface running into warmer air
8. ____ The curved portion of an aircraft’s wing
9. ____ The temperature at which water molecules in the air are cooled enough so they can be seen.
10. ____ Rises and has less density.
11. ____ Mammantus

SECTION TWO – Fill in the blank.  3 points each, total 15 possible points

12.  It cost $150.00 per hour to rent an aircraft. A pilot flies from Cleveland to Sandusky on a westerly course of 270 degrees with airspeed of 100 mph, a distance of 100 miles, and then returns to Cleveland. The wind is westerly at 50 mph the entire time. What did it cost the pilot to rent the plane to fly to Sandusky and return to Cleveland?  _________

13. What is virga? ____________________________________________________

14. In the northern hemisphere, low pressure areas have a circulating airflow rotating what direction? __________________ .

15. An aircraft is landing on runway 18. This means the aircraft’s magnetic heading while on final approach should be ________ (no wind).

16. Standard barometric pressure is ____________ inches of mercury.

SECTION THREE – True and false.  2 point each, possible 10 points

17.  _____ true _____ false     Elevators control roll.
18.  _____ true _____ false     The rudder controls yaw and is turned by the control wheel or yoke.
19.  _____ true _____ false     Ailerons control pitch and are manipulated by using the aircraft’s control wheel or yoke.
20.  _____ true _____ false     A westerly wind means the wind is blowing out of the    east and toward the west.
21.  _____ true _____ false     An aircraft taking off on a hot day with low pressure will need less runway length than on a hot day with high pressure.

SECTION FOUR – Multiple Choice:  2 points each, possible 14 points

22. An aircraft’s wing has an angle of attack formed by (a) the upper camber and the cord line (b) the lower camber and the upper camber (c) the relative wind and the flight path (e) the chord line and the relative wind  (e) None of the above.
23. An aircraft is flying due west at 6,000 feet. At this altitude, the wind is blowing from west to east at 50 mph.  The aircraft is traveling at 200 mph through the air. What is the aircrafts airspeed? _______ 
24. In 24 above, what is the aircrafts ground speed? _______
25.  Circle all that apply. An aircraft has a high angle of attack when (a) Flying fast (b) Flying slowly (c) Landing (d) Taking off (e) very heavy and overloaded
26. A hot-air balloon is at 6,000 feet above the ocean.  The wind is westerly at 35 mph.  What is the balloon’s airspeed? (a) west bound at 35 mph  (b) east bound at 35 mph. (c) zero (d) west bound at zero mph (e) east bound at zero mph (f) none of the answers are correct.
27. If an aircraft’s transponder is squawking 7700, it means the pilot is
(a) experiencing an emergency (b) experiencing radio failure (e) being hi-jacked (d) flying on his own without contacting the controllers
28. Once an aircraft lands at an airport and taxis off the runway, the pilot is asked to contact for further instructions (a) ground control (b) control tower (c) departure control (d) clearance delivery (e) approach control

SECTION FIVE – Identification – 2 points each, possible 12 points

29.  Aircraft Parts Identification

A ____________________ B ___________________ C ___________________

D ____________________ E ___________________ F ___________________

30. Clouds Identification, 2 points each, possible 12 points
A ____________________ B ___________________ C ___________________

D ____________________ E ___________________ F ___________________

31.  3 points - Based only on the wind direction, what runway would pilots select for takeoff and landing at the below airport? The wind is westerly (270 degrees) at 20 MPH.  Runway number____________

 SECTION 6 – Short Essay – use extra sheets of paper if needed – 4 points each, possible 12 points

32. Explain what makes an airplane fly discussing Bernoulli’s principle. 

33. Explain how a barometer works during high and low pressure areas.  

34. What make a rubber suction cup stick to a window?