Calculus Applications: Aeronautical Engineering

More about AE

Salary: median annual wage $103,720 in May 2012

Work Activities:

- apply the theories of calculus to create air crafts and support equipment

- perform flight tests to determine take-off distances, rates of ascension, stall speeds, maneuverability , and landing capacities

- measuring and improving the performance of air crafts

- alter safety feature designs or decrease fuel consumption and pollution

- interpret data and publish results

- use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create designs for planes

"Aerospace engineers are employed in industries whose workers design or build aircraft, missiles, systems for national defense, or spacecraft. Aerospace engineers are employed primarily in analysis and design, manufacturing, industries that perform research and development, and the federal government [...] Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2012 to 2022, slower than the average for all occupations. Some aerospace engineers work on projects that are related to national defense and thus require security clearances. This requirement will help to keep jobs in the United States."

- www.bls.gov

Applications of Calculus

Michael Wong, Aeronautical Engineer and Computer Programmer, explains the applications of calculus in AE.

"Aerospace engineers use the principles of calculus for [...] analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work."

Bureau of Labor Statistics

bls.gov

"Derivatives and integrals are used directly by scientists and engineers to describe physical effects and processes [...] I solve what are known as the Navier-Stokes equations (differential equations which are studied in 3rd year engineering and beyond in college.). Once solved, these equations describe the density, momentum, and energy of air flow produced by an aircraft. From these properties, we can derive the same information as a wind tunnel test would give through measurement and observation, but at a small fraction of the cost."

Calculus I

single variable calculus, The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, evaluating function, limits, derivatives, and integrals

Calculus II

improper integrals, integral applications for volumes, or moments, inverse exponential and logarithmic functions, and linear algebra

Calculus III (Vector Calculus)

multivariate calculus, vector analysis, particle movement in three dimensions, partial derivatives (such as tangent planes or Lagrange multipliers), and multiple integrals, and Green's Theorem

Differential Equations

Extends the study of calculus to real world problems, such as population growth and decay, or the depletion of natural resources

Vocab

Lagrange multiplier - a strategy for finding the local maxima and minima of a function subject to equality contraints

Stall speed - the rpm at which the torque converter transfers the power from the engine to the transmission

Multivariate calculus - the branch of calculus that studies functions of more than one variable. Partial derivatives and multiple integrals are the generalizations of derivative and integral that are used.

Partial derivative - a derivative of a function of two or more variables with respect to one variable, the other(s) being treated as constant.

Green's Theorem:

Let C be a positively oriented, piecewise smooth, simple, closed curve and let D be the region enclosed by the curve. If P and Q have continuous first order partial derivatives on D then,

How to become an AE

High School Prerequisites:

Chemistry, Physics, Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus

Bachelor's Degree Programs:

General engineering principles, Propulsion, Stability and control, Structures, Mechanics, and Aerodynamics

Master's Degree

A master's degree is required if you want to begin research and development as an AE.

What is AE?

Aeronautical Engineering is a branch of engineering concerned with the research, design, and technology behind air crafts and spacecrafts.

2014 Aerospace Engineering Summer Career Exploration Program

Calculus Applications: Aeronautical Engineering

by: Katelyn Crandall and Jaime Chernoch

The End