Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Aidan Hart, Eliane Dean, Sophomore Isabel Noot, Nathan Browning, Valeria Villazon
Lead Presenter's Name
Eliane Dean
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Hemanta Kunwar
Abstract
This project explores how vector calculus concepts play a role in aerospace engineering though spacecraft trajectory design. In particular, the notion of vector fields is used to model the gravitational force, whose work done is expressed through line integrals. By taking the curl of the gravitational field and showing it is zero, the field is recognised as conservative, implying that the work done by gravity is path independent. This property is conceptually linked to gravitational potential energy and the principle of energy conservation. The results are then applied to spacecraft motion, where engineers use energy-base methods to determine efficient trajectories while avoiding complex paths. This demonstrates the importance of vector calculus in simplifying and solving real-world problems.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Analysis Commons, Astrodynamics Commons, Engineering Physics Commons
Engineering path trajectories with Gravitational Fields
This project explores how vector calculus concepts play a role in aerospace engineering though spacecraft trajectory design. In particular, the notion of vector fields is used to model the gravitational force, whose work done is expressed through line integrals. By taking the curl of the gravitational field and showing it is zero, the field is recognised as conservative, implying that the work done by gravity is path independent. This property is conceptually linked to gravitational potential energy and the principle of energy conservation. The results are then applied to spacecraft motion, where engineers use energy-base methods to determine efficient trajectories while avoiding complex paths. This demonstrates the importance of vector calculus in simplifying and solving real-world problems.