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Introduction : History and Politics of the ‘The Space Race’ (Extending Background Knowledge)
Non-Physics Students
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1. Access the web site ‘How Stuff Works’-‘How Rocket Engines Work ’ and print out a copy for yourself and other students.
2. The Saturn V Rocket used on the Apollo Moon landings was designed by a U.S. citizen called Wernher Von Braun. Are there any issues associated with his background? |
3. Access the web site‘The Space Race’ and read President Kennedy’s famous speech of Sept 12, 1962. What do you know about the global political climate of the time?
4. ‘Technology advances faster in times of conflict?’ Discuss with appropriate examples e.g. Radar, Hovercraft.
Physics Students
Physics/Automotive and Aeronautical Engineering (Syllabus Extension)
1. The Rocket Engine relies on the principle of ‘Conservation of Momentum’ (Syllabus Reference: Forces, Fields and Energy – Dynamics).
2. Complete the ‘Advancing Physics’ problems on ‘Jets and Rockets’ (Question 180S: Short Answer)
Very Large and Very Small Numbers presentation  |
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Brief History of Time : From the Big Bang to Black Holes by Stephen Hawking
The author explores the outer reaches of our knowledge of astrophysics and the nature of time and the universe, and reviews the great theories of the cosmos, from Galileo and Newton to Einstein and Poincare.
Mind of God by Paul Davies
The sequel to "God and the New Physics", this book explores the fascinating questions of modern physics such as why does maths, an abstract system of logic invented by man, prove to be so useful in understanding the laws of nature?
Physics of "Star Trek" by Lawrence M Krauss
An easy-to-understand introduction to the complexities of today's and tomorrow's physics. The author assess what is and what is not actually possible according to the laws of physics, among all the weird and wonderful things that Kirk, Spock and Scottie got up to in their parallel universe.
Does God Play Dice? : New Mathematics of Chaos by Ian Stewart
This text explains how mathematics attempts to cope with chaotic behaviour in many different circumstances, for example, from gas dynamics to the stock exchange, through quantum mechanics and much else besides.
Penguin Dictionary of Physics by Valerie Pitt, (Ed.)
With over 4500 entries this cross-referenced dictionary covers sciences such as physical chemistry, astronomy, medical physics, computing and engineering. It also covers developments in physics such as quantum physics, nuclear and particle physics, solid-state physics and computer sciences.
Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down by J.E. Gordon
This book could even give Stress Analysis a good name. The author does an exceedingly good job of explaining the property or behavior of a material. He then proceeds to demonstrate the direct relationship between the properties and how the material is utilized and how it affects of the overall design of the structure. |
