Dr. Ashok Gopalarathnam is an associate professor of mechanical & aerospace engineering at NCSU. As a boy he read adventure novels about a detective in Special Air Police. Today he uses wind tunnels and computer simulations to understand the physics of vortices and stalls of airplanes, helicopters, and hand-held drones.
When did you discover you wanted to be an aeronautical engineer?
Technology
Riding the Wind
From cyclists to race cars, the motion of an object is determined by the sum of the forces acting on it. Those forces have both strength and direction and they can be observed and measured to predict future motion. Watch how an aeronautics engineer works with Newton's three Laws of Motion to test the best posture and helmet for a cyclist in a wind tunnel.
Components of Storm Surge
What is Storm Surge?
A combination of wind driven water and pressure driven water piles up water ahead of the eye of the storm.
Related Resources:
What's My Story: Meteorologist
David Glenn is a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Morehead City. He grew up in Wilmington, living through 5 massive hurricanes in 4 years. He is awed by ferocious wind and rain and works hard to be sure that people stay safe during hazardous weather.
When did you discover you wanted to be a weatherman?
Surging Water Warnings
Storm surge is not a giant wave like a tsunami, but it is the gradual piling up of water along the coast. It is often the most damaging effect of a hurricane, but is not often clearly understood and it is not easy to predict. New research, and a new computer program developed by the UNC Institute of Marine Science, is helping solve the problem.
Exploration Station
Maria Lundberg takes us to downtown Lumberton to visit Exploration Station, a regional children's museum designed to help youngsters open their minds to creativity through 12 interactive exhibits that focus on literacy, science, math, arts, health and safety. Exploration Station is the only museum of its kind in Robeson County and receives visitors from North and South Carolina. Original Broadcast Date: 05/17/2013
CompostNow
CompostNow is a Raleigh-based company that converts compostable waste and food scraps into nutrient rich soil. The company's process involves a full service doorstep compost shuttle that picks up customer's compost weekly and delivers it back as dirt. Frank Graff brings us the story. Original Broadcast Date: 04/22/2013.
NCSU Solar Grant
A U.S. Dept. of Energy grant will be used at North Carolina State University to design solar energy systems & installation & connection procedures that require little or no customization by homeowners & installers. The systems would set up quickly and connect to the power grid easily, while still meeting building and electrical codes. Original Broadcast Date: 04/15/2013.
Wilmington WiFi
Wilmington, NC was the first city in the country to turn off its analog television signals and is now reusing the spectrum to deliver free Internet WiFi throughout the city. Kelley McHenry shows us how in this North Carolina Now report. Original Broadcast Date: 04/08/2013.
Power Up Time At Montlieu - Pt. 4
Montlieu Academy was considered an under-performing school until last year, with low test scores & high absenteeism. Thanks to High Point University & community foundations, there is a new emphasis on technology at Montlieu. Test scores have improved dramatically & the students say they really like to come to school.