CROSSWINDS ARE
CRITICAL
AN INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRICIT Y AND MAGN ETISM
PREAMBLE
The original version of ‘Crosswinds are Critical’ is run as a Laboratory Group Research
Project, undertaken by students in small groups. There are four laboratory sessions of 3
hours each as well as two facilitated workshops. For each of the workshops there is set
question for class discussion, that are marked at the workshops. These workshop questions
are designed to support the practical work by providing ideas and relevant theory. Most of
the required theory can be found in any undergraduate physics text book.
This version of the problem has been adapted as a purely theoretical exercise as an
introduction to electricity and mangetism.
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INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the module students should be able to solve problems involving
Resistances, current and voltages of series and parallel components
Ohm’s Law
Kirchhoff’s Laws
Potential Dividers
Capacitor voltage and resistance whilst charging and discharging
RC circuits and their time constants
Capacitor smoothing
Dynamos
Faradays law and induced current
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READING LIST
The reading list is that provided for the original module. Other equivalent textbooks are
available.
READY TO STUDY
Breithhaupt, J., Physics. Palgrave Foundations.
ESSENTIAL
Tipler, P.A., Physics for Scientists and Engineers. Freeman.
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PROBLEM STATEMENT
From a local Newspaper:
CROSSWINDS ARE CRITICAL
Another incident this week serves as a reminder for pilots to consider crosswinds on approach
to land. Bob C's Puffin Aerosport suffered minor damage after a gust of wind affected the
aircraft on landing. Bob was approaching runway 27 (due west), with air traffic control
reporting wind from the north west at 21 knots. The Puffin is rated for crosswind components
up to 15 knots, so Bob went ahead with his landing, only to be caught by a gust on touchdown.
The plane veered onto the grass at the side of the runway and bent an undercarriage leg. The
airport emergency team arrived at the scene quickly, but Bob was unharmed and able to exit
the aircraft unassisted. He intends to have the Puffin flying again within three weeks.
This is the second incident this year involving crosswinds. Pilots are advised to read the
operating manuals for their aircraft to determine crosswind limitations and operating
procedures. When on approach, monitor the wind information given by air traffic control and
keep an eye on the windsock to assess gusting.
Asked if anything was being done about this state of affairs a spokesperson for Otherton
Airport management said that they would be pleased to receive ideas for a safety beacon, but
that this would have to get CAA approval.
From the Directorate of Research:
With regard to the safety beacon, I’ve got some data for you below on the laboratory
equipment. Here’s a suggested circuit. Do you think it will work?
resistor
Wind dynamo
We can add a capacitor to smooth the output if the wind is gusting.
Once you’ve given me the relevant data I can scale this up. We’ll want to patent this so I need
technical details in your report.
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SUGGESTED DELIVERABLE
Individual Report
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QUESTIONS FOR CLASS DISCUSSION
1. A DC power source provides a voltage V0. A voltage V is required to drive a device (V <
V0). This is to be achieved by choosing two resistors R1 and R2. What ratio R1/ R2 is required?
How might you decide on the absolute values?
R1V1
V0
R2 V2
2. An uncharged capacitor has an effective resistance of zero whereas a fully charged
capacitor has an infinite resistance. Can you explain this statement?
3. A fully charged capacitor, capacitance C is discharged through a resistor R. What is the
time constant of circuit?
What are the time constants of the circuits shown?
R R
C C C
R r r
r R
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4. In the circuit below, how does the capacitor discharge when the dynamo stops?
How should the circuit be modified?
5. A circular coil of radius a rotates at an angular speed in a uniform magnetic field B.
What is the output voltage? Estimate the magnetic field in the dynamo you have been using.
6. A dynamo is powered by a wind of speed v and provides an output voltage V. By
estimating the work done dynamically by the wind and electrically by the dynamo derive a
relation of the form V v