I played most of a round of disc golf today. Brent and I drove to Murfreesboro to play the course up there. Brent had never played before, so I figured a nicer course was better than a little closer course. It was hot. I had taken water (lots of water), but I still got way too hot. On 17, one shot from holing it, I twisted my right ankle. I really hurt. A lot. It got better enough to walk (fortunately Brent had driven), but we didn't play 18. The course isn't bad, a little hard to follow, some signs, but not on every hole. Some open holes, some through the woods (think Johnson Rd). Not advisable to play it in 95 degree heat, however. Except for a couple of bad holes, I did alright. The course is short without much turning in the holes. Given the option, I'd probably play it over the closer course 9 times out of 10.
I should really be doing work for my classes. And I need to find a working printer. And get this ankle to feel better. More tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
Pitot-static tubes
In Experimental Methods, we discussed Bernoulli's equation, debated it's applicability to compressible flows and flows in general, then argued about the correct way to measure a flow's speed. One of the guys from AEDC offered the helpful opinion, that you just measure the pressure and you've got speed. True enough, but not enough to be true. So I corrected that you need a pitot-static tube, which measures dynamic and static pressure, from which the flow velocity could be calculated. I'm always right. Just remember that.
Anyway, we wasted 2 hours on the statements that "models have to be similar to the original" and "pressure can be measured." We didn't have anyone turn a pitot-static tube the wrong way in a flow (Garrett, Brian), mostly because we didn't actually measure anything, but the class wasn't exactly new material. Eh, if they want to give me a Masters without me knowing anything more than my Bachelors, that'll work, too.
Sonic boom. Another sonic boom. (They've been testing with a chase plane recently, so two sonic booms are the norm.)
It's lunch time now. I'm hungry. More tomorrow.
Anyway, we wasted 2 hours on the statements that "models have to be similar to the original" and "pressure can be measured." We didn't have anyone turn a pitot-static tube the wrong way in a flow (Garrett, Brian), mostly because we didn't actually measure anything, but the class wasn't exactly new material. Eh, if they want to give me a Masters without me knowing anything more than my Bachelors, that'll work, too.
Sonic boom. Another sonic boom. (They've been testing with a chase plane recently, so two sonic booms are the norm.)
It's lunch time now. I'm hungry. More tomorrow.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Gaseous Discharges
Through an arcjet thruster. Where did you think I was going with that title?
I've been somewhat busy for the past couple of weeks. Classes aren't too bad. Lots of work that's supposed to be done outside of class, but that can be hidden and shuffled for a while. The books for the classes are optional but required. Fortunately, one is free online, and the other I found for about 1/3 of retail. I mentioned that my classes are early now, but I'm a little better used to it. I'm awake the whole time, at least. Dr. Schulz likes to ramble, and that's the earliest class, so it's the hardest to pay attention in. Then, there's the Br. John problem of going through an entire derivation, missing some sign change of vector sense, and needing to redo the entire derivation from the beginning. Twice.
On other fronts, I've found a couple of 3-bedroom houses for rent that might be options for August. I'm ambivalent on the options. Bigger, more expensive, requiring a move vs. more cramped, but cheaper and already here.
I like pizza. More tomorrow.
I've been somewhat busy for the past couple of weeks. Classes aren't too bad. Lots of work that's supposed to be done outside of class, but that can be hidden and shuffled for a while. The books for the classes are optional but required. Fortunately, one is free online, and the other I found for about 1/3 of retail. I mentioned that my classes are early now, but I'm a little better used to it. I'm awake the whole time, at least. Dr. Schulz likes to ramble, and that's the earliest class, so it's the hardest to pay attention in. Then, there's the Br. John problem of going through an entire derivation, missing some sign change of vector sense, and needing to redo the entire derivation from the beginning. Twice.
On other fronts, I've found a couple of 3-bedroom houses for rent that might be options for August. I'm ambivalent on the options. Bigger, more expensive, requiring a move vs. more cramped, but cheaper and already here.
I like pizza. More tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
I hate early classes
With a hatred usually reserved for people like Garrett.
My nice 2:30 class has now been moved to 8AM. That's way before I usually even wake up. Hours before.
But at least Dr. Schulz makes up for it with a good sense of humor. Today, he "missed" his pocket-sized slide-rule that he had in college. And, he told us about the experiment that you always read about in physics - shooting a bullet into block of wood. Except instead of his professor just telling about the experiment, in the story, he took out an actual 22 rifle and shot a block of wood, in class or a lab or something. That is almost as good a story as squirrel hunting by shooting in front of the squirrel, using the shockwave of the bullet to disable said squirrel. I like the squirrel story better myself, but the "shooting stuff in class" story is good, too.
I haven't updated much, mostly because I'm lazy. I just started my summer classes (A fluids lab and Electric Rocket Propulsion class), so I'll be getting started on those and might have more to talk about. More tomorrow.
My nice 2:30 class has now been moved to 8AM. That's way before I usually even wake up. Hours before.
But at least Dr. Schulz makes up for it with a good sense of humor. Today, he "missed" his pocket-sized slide-rule that he had in college. And, he told us about the experiment that you always read about in physics - shooting a bullet into block of wood. Except instead of his professor just telling about the experiment, in the story, he took out an actual 22 rifle and shot a block of wood, in class or a lab or something. That is almost as good a story as squirrel hunting by shooting in front of the squirrel, using the shockwave of the bullet to disable said squirrel. I like the squirrel story better myself, but the "shooting stuff in class" story is good, too.
I haven't updated much, mostly because I'm lazy. I just started my summer classes (A fluids lab and Electric Rocket Propulsion class), so I'll be getting started on those and might have more to talk about. More tomorrow.
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