Higher Colleges of Technology
Abu Dhabi Men’s College
HD Common Year 1
Semester 2
PARACHUTING
Integrated Project
Student Brief
Course Name
English Project Writing
Applied Physics
Course Code
ENG 124
ETEC 110
Faculty
Mark
30
The HCT Graduate Outcomes that can be addressed by doing the project are
shown on an attached sheet.
PROJECT MILESTONES
 Brief introduction to students by English teacher:
 Teacher technical overview by physics teacher:
 Internet search for history and technical information:
 Independent Learning Week:
 Physics teacher discusses freefall & non-freefall equations:
 IT teacher discusses expected Excel equations & charts:
 Submission of draft report to English teacher only:
 Submission of final report to English teacher only:
 Oral presentation to a faculty panel (Roger, Osman & Ali):
Week 09
Week 09
Week 09
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
As part of the HD Common curriculum you are required to do a group
project integrating some of the subject areas within your course, which are
English, Physics, and Information Technology.
The topic chosen for this integrated project is “Parachuting” and most of the
necessary physics equations associated with parachuting are given below
together with their derivations.
Your group will have to utilize its existing and newly acquired knowledge to
produce an appropriate model (equations + tables + charts) showing how
parachutes enable people to jump safely from an aircraft.
The group will be required to explain the physical principles involved and
produce Excel graphs of altitude and velocity with time using your English
language skills throughout group discussions, group report and individual
presentations.
PROJECT TASKS
Task 1: [ENG 173]
Collate information about parachutes from multiple sources:
1.
What are the origins of the parachute?
a) Historical aspect from Da Vinci onwards
2.
How did the parachute develop?
a) Modern developments from the 1st airplanes
b) Materials used for making the parachutes
3.
What are the uses of the parachute?
a) Main use
b) Other uses
Task2: [ETEC 110]
Explain why without a parachute you would fall faster and probably be
killed. Explain the effect of air resistance, and show how air resistance is
dependent on the object size, shape and velocity.
Task3: [ETEC 110]
Prove practically that drag force is proportional to the square of velocity. For
example if you are driving at 10km/h with a sheet of paper stuck out of the
window and is bent backwards 10 degrees, then driving at 20km/h will bend
the sheet backwards to 40 degrees.
Task 4: [ETEC 100]
Use the given equations to model the motion of the parachutist, before and
after the opening of a parachute. Chart the velocity and altitude with time
using Microsoft Excel. Use a lookup function to determine the air density at
each altitude point.
Task 5: [ENG 173]
Write up a report (750 - 1,000 words) of the activities involved in
researching the problem, using the equations and calculating & charting the
motion graphs.
Write a conclusion stating what new knowledge you have gained in Physics,
IT and English. Suggest new ways in which the parachuting project could be
improved.
Task 7: [ETEC 110, ENG 124]
[5 + 5 marks] All
Produce a PowerPoint 10min presentation of the project report followed by
questions and answer 5 min session.
APPENDIXES
The following appendices are included with this document:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
Parachute Equations
Excel Solution Template
Action Plan Template
Assessment Record
Graduate Outcomes
Sample Title Page
Report and Presentation Guidelines
Sample Bibliography Page (MLA Style)
Appendix A
Parachute Equations
Parachute Diameter Calculation
The first several seconds after a parachutist jumps from an airplane before
opening the parachute, he or she falls freely through thin air with an increasing
vertical speed (v) at an acceleration rate equal to the gravity acceleration (g).
However as the speed increase, the air resistance or drag force increases
squarely with it as in the following equation:
Fd 
1
C d Av 2
2
Where:
Fd is the drag force
 (Greek letter "rho") is the density of air at current altitude
Cd is the drag coefficient which is dependent on the chute shape
A is the area of the chute
v is the velocity through the air
and the net acceleration (a) becomes less and less until some velocity at which a
becomes 0 when the acceleration force due to gravity (Fg) becomes equal to the
deceleration force due to air drag Fd,
Fg  Fd
mg 
1
C d Av 2
2
where m is the total mass of the chute and parachutist and
g is the gravity acceleration of Earth.
now solving this equation for the area of the chute:
A
2mg
C d v 2
given the area of a hemisphere chute is A 

4
D 2 , the chute diameter is
calculated as follows:
D
4A

and substituting the right-side of A equation into the equation of D gives:
D
8mg
C d v 2
Where:
D is the chute diameter in meters
m is the mass of both the chute and parachutist in kilograms
g is the acceleration of gravity = 9.81 m/s2
 (Greek letter "pi") is the constant ratio = 3.14159265359
 (Greek letter "rho") is the density of air at 0 altitude = 1.225 kg/m3
Cd is the drag coefficient of the chute =1.5 for a hemisphere chute
v is a safe impact speed with the ground (~3 m/s or less)
This first equation will be used for calculating the diameter of a hemisphere
parachute given the desired impact speed with the ground [input v  output D].
Calculating Parachute Velocity
Note that we can easily find the descent velocity, given the chute diameter, by
simply rearranging the above equation to get
v
8mg
C d D 2
where:
v is a the current descend speed at current altitude
m is the total mass of both the chute and parachutist in kilograms
g is the acceleration of gravity = 9.81 m/s2
 (Greek letter "pi") is the constant ratio = 3.14159265359
 (Greek letter "rho") is the density of air at current altitude.
A table of air density at different altitudes is given below.
Cd is the drag coefficient of the chute = 1.5 for a hemisphere chute.
D is the chute diameter in meters
This second equation will be used for calculating the velocity at any altitude with
a given air densityand the chute diameter [input D,   output v].
Calculating Parachute Altitude
Now that we know the descent velocity (v0, v1, v2, …, vn ) at every point in time
assuming 1 second interval T (t0, t1, t2, …, tn ), we can find the current altitude (h2)
by first finding out how far has the parachute traveled over each time interval
(h), and subtracting it from the last altitude (h1).
h  h2  h1
h  average(v)  t
h2  h1 
v1  v2  
 t 2  t1 
h2  h1 
thus
h2  h1 
2
v1  v2 
2
v1  v2 
2
T
T
where:
t1 and t2 are the beginning time and end time of an interval T,
v1 and v2 be the beginning velocity and end velocity of T
h1 and h2 be the beginning altitude and end altitude of T.
This third equation will be used alternating with the second equation (i.e. Eq2,
Eq3, Eq2, Eq3, Eq2, Eq3, …) for calculating the altitude at each time point.
Examples of freefall and non-freefall calculations:
If h1 is 4000m, and v1 is 0m/s then after 1s of freefall acceleration a = -9.8m/s2:
a
v2  v1
T
h2  4000 
 9.8  0 2
1
v2  v1  a  T v2 = -9.8 * 1 + 0
h2  4000  (4.9) m
v2  9.8m / s
h2  3995.5 m
h2  h1 
v1  v2 
2
m
T
If however h1 is 1000m and the parachute is deployed (i.e. open), then based on
air density at this altitude, the parachute diameter and the total mass of person &
parachute, let say we get a speed v1 = -6m/s, thus from the second equation and
after 1sec of descend at a near constant speed of -6m/s we drop to altitude h2:
 6  5.9
assume a is -0.1 m/s2
2
v2  a  T  v1
h2  1000 
v2   0.11  6
h2  1000  (5.95)
v2  5.9 m/s
v1  v2 
2
h2  h1 
T
h2  994.05m
1
Table of Air Density in altitudes up to 5000m
Altitude
(m)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
2100
2200
2300
2400
Air Density
(kg/m3)
1.225
1.210
1.200
1.190
1.180
1.170
1.160
1.150
1.130
1.120
1.110
1.100
1.090
1.080
1.070
1.060
1.050
1.040
1.030
1.020
1.010
0.997
0.987
0.977
0.967
Altitude
(m)
2500
2600
2700
2800
2900
3000
3100
3200
3300
3400
3500
3600
3700
3800
3900
4000
4100
4200
4300
4400
4500
4600
4700
4800
4900
5000
Air Density
(kg/m3)
0.957
0.948
0.938
0.928
0.919
0.909
0.900
0.891
0.882
0.873
0.864
0.855
0.846
0.837
0.828
0.819
0.811
0.802
0.794
0.785
0.777
0.769
0.760
0.752
0.744
0.736
Appendix B
Excel Solution Template
A soft copy of an Excel solution template has been given to you with this document.
Note that the charts have not been given to you and you are required to produce the charts based on
your calculated data.
1
Appendix C
Action Plan Template
You are encouraged to prepare an action plan showing a timeline of your planned
activities. Write in your tasks and mark the appropriate box. Comment if a task was not
achieved on time.
Week
#
Task (Activity
Description)
Achieved
(done)

Not
achieved
on time 
If not achieved on
time, why not?
Comment.
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
* Instructors may penalize late submissions or presentations.
2
Appendix D
Assessment Records
Assessment: General criteria for all subjects
INTEGRATED PROJECT ASSESSMENT RECORD
STUDENT NAME:
ID#:
GOOD
SATISFACTORY
POOR
UNSATISFACTORY
COURSE
Applied Physics (ETEC 110)
EXCELLENT
INSTRUCTOR’S
SIGNATURE
DATE OF SUBMISSION:
10
8
6
3
0
Comments
Information Technology II (ETEC 100)
Comments
English Communication (ENG 173)
Comments
Mark apportioned for individual classes:
ETEC 110:
10% (5% for group report, 5% for individual presentation)
ETEC 100:
10% (5% for group report, 5% for individual presentation)
ENG 173:
14% (9% for group report, 5% for individual presentation)
Keep in Student Portfolio plus copy to teacher record
3
Assessment Criteria
Course
ETEC 110
10
Comprehensive coverage and
understanding of all tasks on
Task checklist.
8
Very good coverage and
understanding of most tasks on Task
checklist.
6
Reasonable coverage and
understanding of all tasks on Task
checklist.
Use sold algorithm and
flowchart standards and
solution.
Use good algorithm and flowchart
standards and solution.
Use reasonable algorithm and
flowchart standards and solution.
Includes hard copy of all relevant
appendices.
Realistic, detailed action plan.
Includes hard copy of all relevant
appendices.
Realistic, detailed action plan.
Very good coverage of most tasks on
Task checklist. (1 task not
accomplished correctly.)
Reasonable coverage of tasks on
Task checklist. (2 tasks not
accomplished correctly.)
Very good individual presentation.
Good individual presentation.
Includes hard copy of all
relevant appendices.
Realistic, detailed action plan.
ETEC 100
Comprehensive coverage of all
tasks on Task checklist.
Excellent individual
presentation.
ENG 173
3
Incomplete coverage and poor
understanding of all tasks on Task
checklist.
Use poor algorithm and flowchart
standards and solution.
Includes hard copy of all relevant
appendices.
Few appendices.
Action plan lacks detail.
0
Task not
attempted
Incomplete coverage of all tasks on
Task checklist.
Task not
attempted
Poor individual presentation.
.
Detailed breakdowns of assessment criteria for English reports and presentations are available on the HD1 website. For reports, students will be
assessed on presentation, organization, accuracy, research, information content, and problem-solving/critical thinking skills. For presentations, students
will be assessed on content, mechanics, attitude and body language, communicative performance, visual aids, fielding questions, and language.
Task not
attempted
4
ADMC HD ENGLISH COURSES
WRITTEN REPORT/INTEGRATED PROJECTS ASSESSMENT
Student Name:
________________________________
Student Id:
________________________________
English Teacher: ________________________________
Group: ________________________
1.
Presentation
Appearance, format, cover page information,
sub-headings, font style, font size, spacing
10
8
6
4
2
0
2.
Organization
Introduction, development, conclusion,
chronology
10
8
6
4
2
0
3.
Accuracy
Paragraphs, sentence structure, grammar,
punctuation, spelling
20
16
12
8
4
0
4.
Research
Variety of sources used with correct
referencing and citations (work is not
plagiarized).
Information Content
In-depth coverage of major, relevant minor
details
20
16
12
8
4
0
20
16
12
8
4
0
Problem solving and critical thinking
Evidence of finding solutions to problems.
Evidence of alternatives identified during
research
20
16
12
8
4
0
5.
6.
TOTAL
HCT writing band appropriate to course
/ 100
Yes 
No 
1. Verbal conference
2. One draft bound for the English teacher
3. Final submission assessed by the content teacher if appropriate
Comments
ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR’S SIGNATURE: ___________________ DATE: ______________
5
ADMC HD ENGLISH COURSES
EVALUATION OF STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Student Name:
________________________________
Student Id:
________________________________
English Teacher: ________________________________
1.
Content
Group: ________________________
Relevant/Informative
20 18 16 14 12
10
8
Uninformative
6 4 2 0
Planning, relevance, fulfils task
2.
Mechanics
Appropriate
10 9
8
7
6
5
Not Appropriate
4 3 2 1 0
7
6
5
4
Voice projection, stress, intonation,
speed of delivery
Appropriate
3.
Attitude and Body Language
Interested and dynamic
10
9
8
Not Appropriate
3
Competent
4.
Communicative Performance
Clear and easy to understand
20
18
16
5
Visual Aids
9
1
0
Incompetent
14
12
10
8
6
4
7
6
5
4
3
2
Used Well
10
2
2
0
Not Used
8
1
0
Shown to class.
Well Fielded
6
Fielding Questions
10
9
Was Completely Thrown
8
7
6
5
4
16
14
12
10
8
Accurate
7.
Language
20
18
3
2
1
0
Very Inaccurate
6
4
2
0
Accurate and appropriate
TOTAL
Appropriate band for level
/ 100
Yes 
No 
Band achieved
Comments
ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR’S SIGNATURE: ___________________ DATE: ______________
6
Appendix E
Graduate Outcomes
Graduate Outcomes: Student progress sheet
Your teachers will use this sheet to give you feedback on how well you have addressed the HCT Graduate Outcomes in your work.
HCT Graduate Outcomes - Monitoring of Opportunities Addressed by Students
Program: HD common year 1
Course: Integrated Project
Student Name:
Student ID#:
Assignment #:
Submission Date:
Submitted to:
The shaded items in the table below indicate HCT Graduate Outcomes that you have the opportunity to address in this assignment.
If you feel you can achieve other outcomes, then please discuss this with one of your teachers.
Vocation
SelfCritical Thinking,
al
Management
Information
Global
Problem Solving
Communications &
Teamwork & Leadership
Compete
and Lifelong
Technology
Awareness
& Interdisciplinary
Information Literacy
ncies
Learning
Exploration
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
7.1
7.2
7.3
HCT
Graduate
Outcomes
Opportuniti
es in this
Assignmen
t
Teacher
Agreed
GO
Coverage
Teacher
Feedback
on GO
Coverage
Teachers’ Signatures:
Keep in Student Portfolio plus copy to teacher record
7
Graduate Outcomes: Portfolio tracking sheet
HD Student's GO Portfolio Tracking Sheet - Write your Portfolio Evidence Location in pencil (because you may wish to update your portfolio in the future).
Achievement Indicator
1.2
1.5
apply appropriate search strategies to retrieve information relevant to a given,
ill-defined issue
Evaluate self-selected information for its validity, reliability, extensiveness and
relevance
organize and communicate ideas, concepts and information competently in
English to carry out a wide range of social, work and college related functions
appraise the needs of an audience, and respond
effectively to them
1.6
Achievement Indicator
5.1
respond to challenges in an effective and socially mature way
5.2
evaluate their own learning processes and identify needed
improvements
5.3
create a personal development program
5.4
display a positive attitude and good work habits in the workplace
6.1
offer constructive input to, and accept and utilize feedback from a
group
act ethically in the use and distribution of information
6.2
use group dynamics to facilitate group processes
2.1
identify and address a self-selected, ill-defined problem, and generate possible
solutions independently
6.3
contribute to group decision-making using a number of
recognized alternative strategies and assess their effectiveness
2.2
apply critical analysis to a range of ill-defined problems and make
recommendations for solving them
6.4
act ethically when participating in a group
2.3
explain the purpose of hypotheses and identify a range of testable hypotheses
and their associated testing methods
6.5
act as a group representative and effectively communicate results
of any representation back to the group
2.4
apply concepts and principles from one discipline to another discipline
6.6
evaluate a variety of leadership styles
3.1
Analyze given global issues for their impact on local issues, evaluating their
causes and effects
6.7
describe their own leadership style and critically compare it to
recognized models
3.2
6.8
Recommend an effective leadership style for a range of contexts
3.3
recognize the influence of culture and context on the achievement of specific
tasks, and demonstrate the ability to address them in performing specific tasks
use historical information as a part determinant of solutions to given
contemporary problems
6.9
3.4
generate an informed response to a given global issue
4.1
explore the features of advanced applications from an IT suite and produce
final products to professional standards
select appropriate items from an IT suite and apply them effectively to assist in
problem -solving and decision-making to professional standards
Evaluate the legal and ethical issues surrounding the use of IT, and apply
appropriate ethical standards when using IT
Evaluate the scope of the potential impact of IT in their professional and
personal lives, and identify ways of adjusting to this potential
communicate goals and strategies to others to generate synergy
of purpose, and measure the effectiveness of this communication
perform a defined range of activities in a wide variety of contexts
within the chosen vocation that may be complex and non-routine
analyze their experiences in college and in the workplace, and
review them in relation to possible career paths
analyze current practices within their chosen vocation and
suggest alternatives
1.3
1.4
4.2
4.3
4.4
Self-management
&
lifelong learning
locate information from a self-selected range of sources
HCT
Graduate
Outcomes
Teamwork
&
Leadership
1.1
Portfolio
Evidence
Location
Vocational
Competencies
Information
Technology
Global
Awareness
Critical Thinking,
Problem Solving &
Interdisciplinary
Exploration
Communications &
Information
Literacy
HCT
Graduate
Outcomes
7.1
7.2
7.3
Portfolio
Evidence
Location
8
Appendix F
Sample Title Page
Higher Colleges of Technology
Abu Dhabi Men’s College
Integrated Project
THE PHYSICS OF PARACHUTING
Students’ names & ID numbers:
Section number:
Teachers’ and Class names
9
Appendix G
Report and Presentation Guidelines
You should include the following items in this order in your report:
1. Title (cover) page
Project title: Arial, font size 14, capitals, bold, centered.
Students’ names, ID & section number; Arial, font size 12
centered.
2. Executive Summary Title: Arial, font size 12, capitals, bold, centered.
Text in indented paragraphs: Arial, font size 12, 1.5 spacing,
justified.
3. Body
Section headings: Arial, font size 12, capitals, bold, centered,
underlined.
Text in indented paragraphs: Arial, font size 12, 1.5 spacing,
justified.
Titles for tables, charts, graphics: Arial, font size 10, centered,
italic.
4. Bibliography
Heading: Arial, font size 14, capitals, bold, centered, underlined
Sources: Arial, font size 12, 1.5 spacing. List sources in
alphabetical order, MLA style.
5. Appendix
Document and PowerPoint presentation (6 slides per page), and
any other relevant material Arial size 12.
Use your spell-checker and use your own words. If you copy any material, it should be in
quotation marks (“ “) and footnoted. You should normally use your own words. Plagiarism is
not tolerated at HCT.
REPORT CONTENT GUIDELINES
In your introduction, you must include what the report is going to be about, how
many sections it contains, and what each section is about.
Make sure the pages of your report are numbered, and be careful to follow the
formatting guidelines above.
All sources of information must appear in the bibliography which will include details of
titles, authors, dates of publication, etc., and details of any websites used.
10
Appendix H
Sample Bibliography Page (MLA Style)
All your entries should be alphabetized.
BOOK, ONE AUTHOR
Blackmore, Susan. Consciousness: An Introduction. New York: Oxford UP, 2004.
BOOK, TWO OR THREE AUTHORS
Maddock, Richard C., and Richard L. Fulton. Marketing to the Mind: Right Brain Strategies
for Advertising and Marketing. Westport, CT: Quorum, 1996.
BOOK, AN EDITOR
Lopate, Philip, ed. The Art of the Personal Essay: an Anthology from the Classical Era to the
Present. New York: Anchor-Doubleday, 1994.
ARTICLE IN A REFERENCE BOOK
Coulter, Ellis Merton. "John Adair." Dictionary of American Biography. Ed. Allen Johnson.
Vol. 1. New York: Scribner's Sons, 1964.
ENCYCLOPEDIA ARTICLE, SIGNED
Gates, David M. "Astronomy." Encyclopedia Americana. 1996 ed.
ENCYCLOPEDIA ARTICLE or DICTIONARY ENTRY, UNSIGNED
"Onomatopoeia." Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 11th ed. 2003.
ARTICLE FROM A WEEKLY MAGAZINE
Boyce, Nell. "A Law's Fetal Flaw." U.S. News and World Report 21 July 2003: 49-51.
WEB SITES
BASIC ENTRY
Miller, Elizabeth. “Update on the Dracula Park.” Dracula’s Homepage. 12 Oct 2003.
Memorial Institute of Newfoundland, Newfoundland, Canada. 6 Nov. 2003
<http://www.ucs.mon.ca/%7Eemiller/ >.
NO AUTHOR
Dutch Recipes. 9 Jun. 1998. 16 Sept. 2003
<http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/verona/190/eten.htm>.
DATABASES
PROQUEST
11
Lichtblau, Eric. “Administration Plans Defense of Terror Law.” New York Times 19 Aug.
2003, late ed. (East Coast): A-1. ProQuest. Abu Dhabi Men’s College, Abu Dhabi. 22 Oct.
2004.
< http://www.proquest.com >.
12