![Picture](/uploads/9/2/0/7/92078230/problem2_2.png?744)
Problem Set
Problem 1
A Boeing 747 airplane is travelling from Chicago O'Hare airport to JFK airport. The plane is travelling at top cruising speed, which is 570 statute miles per hour. If the distance between O'Hare and JFK is 642 nautical miles, how long will it take for the plane to reach its destination? If the plane departed O'Hare at 3pm what is the expected arrival time at this speed? (Note: keep in mind the time difference between the two airports)
Problem 2
Two airplanes are traveling towards an air traffic control tower from different approaches, shown in the sector diagram below. Remember the numbers on the diagram below indicate the distance from the zero point, in this case MOD, in nautical miles. If both planes are traveling at 600 knots, will the two planes arrive at TPH a safe distance of 3 nautical miles apart? Explain.
Work in small groups to complete the following problems:
Problem 3
Consider the same situation from problem 2. Air traffic controllers can tell a plane to slow down to avoid a collision. Think of yourself as an air traffic controller. What is one speed you could tell plane AAL12 to travel at to avoid a collision?
Problem 4
Ideally, air traffic controllers do not just want to avoid collision. For maximum efficiency, they want planes to stay an optimal distance apart. In this situation, that ideal spacing is 3 nautical miles. What speed should an air traffic controller tell AAL12 to travel at to keep the planes the optimum distance apart at TPH?
Problem 5
Click on this link to go to an air traffic control simulation produced by NASA. Run the simulation successfully and show the teacher when you were able to complete it successfully. For instructions about how to control the simulation, see the question mark button on the lower right part of the screen, then click the help option. This will tell you what each part of the simulation means and how to change the route and speed of the planes. Remember, the ideal is to get the planes spaced three nautical miles apart at the end of the simulation.
Problem 6
Now try this one! The clouds indicate a thunderstorm, meaning that the route is unavailable. Run the simulation in front of the teacher when you have completed this problem.
Problem 7
Two airplanes, plane A and plane B, are traveling along the same path. Plane B is located 30 nautical miles east of plane A. The two planes should reach the next location, 300 nautical miles east of plane A, at the ideal spacing, 3 nautical miles apart. Currently both planes are travelling at 500 statute miles per hour. Sketch a picture of the situation. What speed can I tell plane A to travel to reach this location at the ideal spacing?
Presentation Information
The purpose of this presentation is to create a slideshow that takes all the information you have learned about air traffic control during this virtual field trip and summarize it. There are two major points that this presentation should cover.
1. You should explain what air traffic controllers do in their careers.
2. You should explain how they use math to solve problems.
The presentation will be completed in your groups. The presentation should be a slide show with at least six slides of content. After these six slides you should include a reference slide, citing three references you used to make the presentation. At least one reference should be a source you found outside of the virtual field trip links. The project will be graded out of twelve point based on this rubric.
Problem 1
A Boeing 747 airplane is travelling from Chicago O'Hare airport to JFK airport. The plane is travelling at top cruising speed, which is 570 statute miles per hour. If the distance between O'Hare and JFK is 642 nautical miles, how long will it take for the plane to reach its destination? If the plane departed O'Hare at 3pm what is the expected arrival time at this speed? (Note: keep in mind the time difference between the two airports)
Problem 2
Two airplanes are traveling towards an air traffic control tower from different approaches, shown in the sector diagram below. Remember the numbers on the diagram below indicate the distance from the zero point, in this case MOD, in nautical miles. If both planes are traveling at 600 knots, will the two planes arrive at TPH a safe distance of 3 nautical miles apart? Explain.
Work in small groups to complete the following problems:
Problem 3
Consider the same situation from problem 2. Air traffic controllers can tell a plane to slow down to avoid a collision. Think of yourself as an air traffic controller. What is one speed you could tell plane AAL12 to travel at to avoid a collision?
Problem 4
Ideally, air traffic controllers do not just want to avoid collision. For maximum efficiency, they want planes to stay an optimal distance apart. In this situation, that ideal spacing is 3 nautical miles. What speed should an air traffic controller tell AAL12 to travel at to keep the planes the optimum distance apart at TPH?
Problem 5
Click on this link to go to an air traffic control simulation produced by NASA. Run the simulation successfully and show the teacher when you were able to complete it successfully. For instructions about how to control the simulation, see the question mark button on the lower right part of the screen, then click the help option. This will tell you what each part of the simulation means and how to change the route and speed of the planes. Remember, the ideal is to get the planes spaced three nautical miles apart at the end of the simulation.
Problem 6
Now try this one! The clouds indicate a thunderstorm, meaning that the route is unavailable. Run the simulation in front of the teacher when you have completed this problem.
Problem 7
Two airplanes, plane A and plane B, are traveling along the same path. Plane B is located 30 nautical miles east of plane A. The two planes should reach the next location, 300 nautical miles east of plane A, at the ideal spacing, 3 nautical miles apart. Currently both planes are travelling at 500 statute miles per hour. Sketch a picture of the situation. What speed can I tell plane A to travel to reach this location at the ideal spacing?
Presentation Information
The purpose of this presentation is to create a slideshow that takes all the information you have learned about air traffic control during this virtual field trip and summarize it. There are two major points that this presentation should cover.
1. You should explain what air traffic controllers do in their careers.
2. You should explain how they use math to solve problems.
The presentation will be completed in your groups. The presentation should be a slide show with at least six slides of content. After these six slides you should include a reference slide, citing three references you used to make the presentation. At least one reference should be a source you found outside of the virtual field trip links. The project will be graded out of twelve point based on this rubric.