Ann Welch explains what a thermal is and why they are important in gliding.

Clouds and Thermals

How does an aircraft without an engine stay up in the air? What factors affect a glider's performance and how far it can travel? Scientific experiments with gliders have been carried out since the 1930’s, particularly with relation to design. Mathematical modelling is used to make and refine gliders that perform as well as possible. The 8 video tracks on this album describe some of the highly mathematical concepts used by pilots, such as glide angle, the ‘best speed to fly’, and the intricacies of competition flying. The principles of gliding are  described with the help of 3D graphics and archive film. This material makes up part of the course MST209, Mathematical methods and models.

Education

How does an aircraft without an engine stay up in the air? What factors affect a glider's performance and how far it can travel? Scientific experiments with gliders have been carried out since the 1930’s, particularly with relation to design. Mathematical modelling is used to make and refine gliders that perform as well as possible. The 8 video tracks on this album describe some of the highly mathematical concepts used by pilots, such as glide angle, the ‘best speed to fly’, and the intricacies of competition flying. The principles of gliding are described with the help of 3D graphics and archive film. This material makes up part of the course MST209, Mathematical methods and models.

Share Clouds and Thermals

Sign up to save your podcasts

Clouds and Thermals

Clouds and Thermals

More shows like Soaring Achievements - for iPod/iPhone

Bon départ: beginners' French - Audio

Modelling pollution in the Great Lakes: a review - for iBooks

Ethics Bites - Audio

Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish - for iPod/iPhone

En rumbo: intermediate Spanish - Audio

Beginners’ Chinese - Audio

Space, Time and Consciousness - for iPod/iPhone

Andante: beginners' Italian - Audio

Bon départ: beginners’ French second edition - for iPod/iPhone

The Galapagos - for iPod/iPhone