1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,040 I'm here at the NASA Langley Research Center's model shop to look into the design process 2 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:07,040 involving models. 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:08,040 Hello, RJ. 4 00:00:08,040 --> 00:00:14,240 I read your friend's email, so I understand you want to learn more about making a model. 5 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:15,240 Yes. 6 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,400 Now, we're doing an assignment on transportation and what it would look like in 100 years. 7 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:23,520 Now, I understand that in the engineering design process that making a model is very 8 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:24,520 important. 9 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,240 I'm not exactly sure why. 10 00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:27,240 Okay. 11 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,400 Say if you want to test your own design. 12 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,440 Would it be a good idea to just go and build it? 13 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,840 Probably not, because it would cost too much, and you don't even know if it will work. 14 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:37,840 Exactly. 15 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,000 What if your plane or car doesn't work properly? 16 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,040 Then you will also risk losing a human life during the testing phase. 17 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:45,040 Wow. 18 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,040 I didn't think of that. 19 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,080 But why are the models so small? 20 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:53,040 When we build model airplanes, the engineer determines what scale is needed. 21 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:54,420 What is scale? 22 00:00:54,420 --> 00:00:58,800 Scale is the ratio or measure between the size of the model and the full-size version. 23 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,240 For an example, take a look at this F-18 model. 24 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:07,000 The scale is 5%, which simply means it's 1 20th of the full-size airplane. 25 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:12,000 So if an airplane is 10 meters long and I want to build a model about 1 10th in size, 26 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,580 then the model would be about 1 meter for a scale of 1 to 10. 27 00:01:15,580 --> 00:01:16,580 Very good. 28 00:01:16,580 --> 00:01:18,800 What scales are normally used when building models? 29 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:23,040 Well, one rule of thumb to follow is that the smaller the scale, the less expensive 30 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,880 it is to build and the easier it is to modify. 31 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:30,200 However, the size varies depending on the design and how the model is tested in the 32 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:31,200 various wind tunnels. 33 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,440 Aren't all wind tunnels the same? 34 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:34,440 Not at all. 35 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:39,440 We have 38 wind tunnels, and they vary in size, and they test different functions. 36 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,840 Some tunnels are large enough to test a small airplane, while others are only a few centimeters 37 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:45,100 in size. 38 00:01:45,100 --> 00:01:46,920 Why does NASA build airplane models? 39 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:52,280 Here at NASA Langley, we conduct research on model airplanes in order to make them safer, 40 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,840 quieter, energy efficient, and more environmentally friendly. 41 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:01,040 We also want to find ways to make them less expensive to build and maintain. 42 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,480 Using models make this research easier and less costly. 43 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,240 Wow, that model over there looks really cool. 44 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,280 It's called the Blender Wayne Body, BWB for short. 45 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,360 It's a futuristic airplane with a unique shape that would cause the entire plane to generate 46 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,400 lift and minimize drag. 47 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,920 We learned about lift and drag in the case of the Challenging Flight. 48 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:22,080 They are two of the four forces of flight. 49 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,520 If you want to learn more about flight, check out the NASA Eiffel's website. 50 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:27,520 Very good. 51 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:32,760 And the design of this airplane is more efficient and will consume 20% less fuel while cruising 52 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,480 at high subsonic speeds. 53 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:35,480 Wow. 54 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:41,480 It looks like the wingspan on this is about 88 centimeters, or .88 meters, on a scale 55 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,080 of 1 to 100. 56 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:47,360 So the full-size version is going to be 88 meters across. 57 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:48,760 That's one huge plane. 58 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,120 It will be slightly less than the length of a football field. 59 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:56,960 It's being developed to carry 800 passengers, but recent studies have focused on vehicles 60 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,280 in the 450 passenger class. 61 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,840 This model here is expected to fly in the year 2020. 62 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:03,840 2020? 63 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,840 Let me see, I'll be about 29 years old. 64 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,960 And I'll be...never mind. 65 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:12,960 Thanks Mr. James. 66 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,560 I never knew models could be so useful. 67 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:16,560 You're welcome. 68 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:17,560 And I wish you good luck on your assignment. 69 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:18,560 All right, bye. 70 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:19,060 Bye-bye.