| CODE | AET1391 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Mathematical Tools for Aviation | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Aerospace Technologies | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Algebriac relationships - Linear and polynomial functions and their roots; Quadratic inequalities. Indices and logs. Coordinate geometry and curve sketching - cartesian and polar coordinates. Basic curve sketching techniques; Distance between two points; Equation of a straight line and a circle; intersecting lines and circles; tangents and normals; Centroid of a triangle. Applications to navigation. Trigonometry - the sine, cosine and tangent functions; The CAST rule; plotting trigonometric functions; Double angle identities; the expression 'acoswt + bsinwt'; factor formulae; Application of trigonometry to navigation. Mathematical explanation of salient parameters of the sine function relevant to telecommunications: phase, amplitude, frequency and constructive and destructive interference. Differentiation - fundamental meaning and theoretical definition; Differentiation of polynomial, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions; Finding stationary points; identifying turning and inflexion points. The meaning of the second derivative. Applications to navigation and aircraft dynamics. Differentiating signals - the effects of signal bias and noise. Integration - fundamental meaning and theoretical definition; Definite and indefinite integrals; Integration of polynomial, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions. The meaning of negative integral values; Applications to aircraft dynamics, navigation and calculation of surface areas and volumes. Integrating signals - the effects of signal bias and noise. Vectors - definition of a vector; vector addition, subtraction and scalar multiplication; angle between two vectors. Applications to navigation. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims at providing the fundamental mathematical background beyond Ordinary Level that will be of relevance to the technical subject matter in aerospace and aviation typically delivered in MQF Level 5 programmes. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain the fundamental concepts of trigonometric functions, also as applied to aerospace and aviation; - Explain the practical meaning of integration and differentiation, also as applied to aerospace and aviation; - Sketch and explain various fundamental mathematical functions and operations relevant to aerospace and aviation; - Explain the concept of vectors as applied to areas in aerospace and aviation. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Carry out trigonometric, differentiation and integration calculations; - Apply graphical and analytical methods involving vectors, trigonometry, differentiation and integration to describe or explain phenomena and technological solutions relevant to aerospace and aviation; - Calculate values of parameters of relevance to aerospace and aviation; Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Core Maths for Advanced Level. Bostock, L. and Chandler S. 3rd Ed. Nelson Thornes, 2000. - Mathematics: The Core Course for A-Level. Bostock, L. and Chandler S. Oxford University Press, 2014. - Pure Maths Year 1/AS. Smith H. Pearson, 2017. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualifications: O level in mathematics or equivalent | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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