Physical science, which is most often called physics, is a very interesting and exciting topic. For an individual who likes technical things and is a hands-on type of person, physics is an invaluable tool. Physics allows us to explain how engines work, both piston and gas turbine; how airplanes and helicopters fly; and countless other things related to the field of aviation and aerospace. In addition to allowing us to explain the operation of the things around us, it also allows us to quantify them. For example, through the use of physics we can explain what the concept of thrust means for a jet engine, and then follow it up by mathematically calculating the pounds of thrust being created.
Physics is the term applied to an area of knowledge regarding the basic and fundamental nature of matter and energy. It does not attempt to determine why matter and energy behave as they do in their relation to physical phenomena, but rather how they behave. The people who maintain and repair aircraft should have knowledge of basic physics, which is sometimes called the science of matter and energy.
- Matter
- Energy
- Force, Work, Power, and Torque (Part One)
- Force, Work, Power, and Torque (Part Two)
- Force, Work, Power, and Torque (Part Three)
- Force, Work, Power, and Torque (Part Four)
- Simple Machines
- Simple Machines – The Lever
- Simple Machines – The Pulley
- Simple Machines – The Gear
- Simple Machines – Inclined Plane
- Stress – Tension, Compression and Torsion
- Stress – Bending, Shear and Strain
- Motion – Speed and Velocity
- Motion – Acceleration
- Motion – Newton’s Law of Motion
- Motion – Circular Motion
- Heat
- Heat Energy Units
- Heat Energy and Thermal Efficiency
- Heat Transfer – Conduction
- Heat Transfer – Convection
- Heat Transfer – Radiation
- Specific Heat
- Temperature
- Thermal Expansion/Contraction
- Pressure
- Pressure (Part Two)
- Gas Laws (Part One)
- Gas Laws (Part Three) Charles’ Law
- Gas Laws (Part Four) General Gas Law
- Gas Laws (Part Two) Boyle’s Law
- Gas Laws (Part Five) Dalton’s Law
- Fluid Mechanics – Buoyancy
- Fluid Mechanics – Fluid Pressure
- Fluid Mechanics – Pascal’s Law
- Fluid Mechanics – Bernoulli’s Principle
- Sound – Wave Motion
- Speed of Sound
- Frequency of Sound
- Doppler Effect
- The Atmosphere
- Composition of the Atmosphere
- Atmospheric Pressure
- Water Content of the Atmosphere
- Atmospheric Density
- Water Content of the Atmosphere – Humidity
- Standard Atmosphere
- Aircraft Theory of Flight
- Bernoulli’s Principle and Subsonic Flow
- Lift and Newton’s Third Law
- Airfoils
- Boundary Layer Airflow
- Wingtip Vortices
- Axes of an Aircraft
- Aircraft Stability (Part One)
- Aircraft Stability (Part Two)
- Flight Controls and the Lateral Axis
- Flight Controls and the Longitudinal Axis
- Flight Controls and the Vertical Axis
- Flight Controls – Tabs
- Flight Controls – Flaps
- Flight Controls – Leading Edge Slots and Slats
- High-Speed Aerodynamics – Compressibility Effects
- High-Speed Aerodynamics – The Speed of Sound
- High-Speed Aerodynamics – Subsonic, Transonic, and Supersonic Flight
- High-Speed Aerodynamics – Shock Waves
- High-Speed Aerodynamics – High-Speed Airfoils
- High-Speed Aerodynamics – Aerodynamic Heating
- Helicopter Structures and Airfoils – Main Rotor Systems
- Helicopter Structures and Airfoils – Anti-Torque Systems
- Helicopter Axes of Flight – Control Around the Vertical Axis
- Helicopter Axes of Flight – Control Around the Longitudinal and Lateral Axes
- Helicopters in Flight – Hovering
- Helicopters in Flight – Forward Flight
- Helicopters in Flight – Blade Flapping
- Helicopters in Flight – Autorotation
- Weight-Shift Control, Flexible Wing Aircraft Aerodynamics (Part One)
- Weight-Shift Control, Flexible Wing Aircraft Aerodynamics (Part Two)
- Powered Parachute Aerodynamics
Flight Mechanic Recommends
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