Paper
Thermodynamics of the Challenger Explosion
“It is my honest and very real fear that if we do not take immediate action to dedicate a team to solve the problem?we stand in jeopardy of losing a flight along with all the launch pad facilities.” This warning was given in a memorandum from Roger M. Boisjoly, an engineer at Morton Thiokol, NASA?s rocket contractor, to Robert K. Lund, vice president of engineering. Unfortunately, this “very real fear” came true on January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just 73.63 seconds after ignition of the rocket boosters. As third graders, we watched this horrendous explosion on television at school. It was an experience none of us will forget. This paper will discuss the thermodynamic explanation for the explosion of the Challenger, which was the failure of the rubber O-rings that seal the joints of the solid rocket booster sections.
In order to understand the mechanics of the Challenger, the O-rings must be seen with respect to the framework of the shuttle. The solid rocket boosters are located on either side of the external fuel tank, which is attached to the orbiter. A solid rocket booster (SRB) consists of four segments, held together by three field joints. These field joints are sealed by both primary and secondary O-rings. On the Challenger, the O-rings are twelve feet in diameter, with a thickness of 0.280 inches (7.11 x 10-3 m). The function of O-rings in an SRB is to seal the gaps between the tang and clevis joint, which are joints that hold the segments of the SRB together. O-rings are sealed by gas pressure that is produced upon combustion, inside the tang and clevis joint. The gas pressure pushes on the O-ring from all angles, forcing it into the gap between the tang and clevis, therefore, sealing the joint .
The temperatures before the launch made the O-rings too brittle to fill the gaps in the joint. During the 38 days the rocket sat on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, the O-rings had been flattened into their grooves. In this respect, the O-rings were unable to regain their original shape, which allowed fuel to blow past them in the bottom segment of the right SRB when the SRBs were ignited. The fuel eroded the O-rings, and burned them to the point where a flame burst through the joint. According to the Glass Transition Temperature theory, when an elastomer is exposed to extremely low temperature, the elastomer becomes brittle and loses its elasticity. In the case of the Challenger, the low temperature was 28o F. This was low enough to make the O-ring rigid and brittle.
Другие работы по теме:
Solar Flares Essay Research Paper INTROI Solar
Solar Flares Essay, Research Paper INTRO I. Solar flares are violent eruptions of gases that release ultra-violet radiation, x-rays and gammy rays. It’s an enormous explosion of hydrogen and helium above the sun surface.
Hiroshima Essay Research Paper The stories and
Hiroshima Essay, Research Paper The stories and events that unfold in John Hersey’s, Hiroshima, have certainly been eye-openers for me. As a child in middle school and high school I, we have all heard of the atomic bomb and of course of Hiroshima, but never in as much detail or on such a personal level as these stories.
Supernova Essay Research Paper The titanic explosion
Supernova Essay, Research Paper The titanic explosion of a star is commonly known as a supernova. Supernova’s outbursts of energy are the largest explosions and events that occur in the universe. Essentially, they create the basic elements of life. Shock waves from the exploding star trigger the births of new stars and the formation of solar systems like our own.
2Nd Law Of Thermodynamics Vs E Essay
, Research Paper Second Law of Thermodynamics vs. Evolution According to the second law of thermodynamics, when energy is converted from one form to another, the amount of useful energy decreases. In relation to the theory of evolution, this law is not contradictory. The second law of thermodynamics is not relating to energy within living things because living things retain energy from the sun.
Challenger Essay Research Paper On January 26
Challenger Essay, Research Paper On January 26, 1986, one of the greatest disasters of our time occurred. When Challenger was destroyed many questions were asked about the safety of space missions. Many questions
The Selfish Gene Essay Research Paper Creationism
The Selfish Gene Essay, Research Paper Creationism is a Bible based view of human origin that states humans were created in their current form and have not changed, or evolved, throughout the years. However the belief that our species has changed over time to suit our environment is considered evolution.
The Challenger Disaster Essay Research Paper The
The Challenger Disaster Essay, Research Paper The Challenger DisasterThesis: I believe that in 1986 the space shuttle Challenger exploded due to low temperatures and the faulty design of one of the joints on an SRB (solid rocket booster).Why was this event unique? I believe this event is unique to the 1980 s because it was the first time a civilian, a school teacher, was going into space.
Challenger Essay Research Paper Challenger ExplosionMany people
Challenger Essay, Research Paper Challenger Explosion Many people still remember where they were, what they were doing, and what they felt when they heard about the tragedy of the Challenger. The Challenger disaster served as a violent and shocking reminder that man s quest for the final discovery of our galaxy had never really begun.
Thermodynamics Essay Research Paper ThermodynamicsYou arrive at
Thermodynamics Essay, Research Paper Thermodynamics You arrive at your office and unpack your breakfast. The piping-hot tea and chilly orange juice you purchased just minutes ago are now both lukewarm. Why can t the tea steal heat from the juice to stay hot? Why does even the most state-of-the-art car operate at a mere 30 percent efficiency? Why can t some genius create a perpetual motion machine? The answers lie in the field of thermodynamics.
Oklahoma Bombing Essay Research Paper Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Bombing Essay, Research Paper Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial Ladd-Whitney Monument It was April 19, 1995 at 9:03 that the lives of thousands were affected by one single explosion. The explosion took the lives of 168 men, women, and children. The explosion physically injured 600 individuals and emotionally injured numerous amounts of people around the world.
Into The Twilight Essay Research Paper She
Into The Twilight Essay, Research Paper She, the Innocent One, Calls to me. She tightens her thighs, Wanting tenderness and gentleness, Not withered dreams and darkness.
The Ethics Behind The Challenger Explosion Essay
, Research Paper The explosion of the Challenger spacecraft is the greatest tragedy in the history of NASA. It is also one of the most heated engineering ethical debates available for analysis. The question of whether or not the astronauts had the proper information to consent the launch is one of the main aspects of the debate.
Challenger Explosion Essay Research Paper The Explosion
Challenger Explosion Essay, Research Paper The Explosion of the Challenger The 1960s and 1970s were a time of great confusion and turmoil in the United States. Americans were afraid, paranoid, and insecure due to events like Watergate, Arab oil price hikes, and the Iranian hostage situation. The U.S. Space Program, or NASA, was becoming more successful in the 1980s, with continued advancements that allowed space exploration to be less expensive and more rewarding.
Nuclear War Essay Research Paper Effects of
Nuclear War Essay, Research Paper Effects of a Nuclear Exchange “The tragedy of war is that it uses man’s best to do man’s worst.” – Henry Fosdick. This quote greatly reflects the time and effort of scientists put into the development of nuclear weapons for war. If a nuclear war were to take place in the coming future, it would be a result of growing tension between multiple highly powerful countries.
Saint Thomas Aquinas Writings Essay Research Paper
In “Summa Contra Gentiles”, by Saint Thomas Aquinas, one of the major proofs of the existence of God is the second proof. The second proof is based on the “everything has a cause” theory. He states that there are ordered lines of efficient causes, and nothing can be it’s own cause. Yet it is impossible for the line of efficient causes to extend into infinity.
Gibb
’s Free Energy Cycle Essay, Research Paper The second law of thermodynamics states that energy transitions are imperfect. No matter what, energy is lost. In machines an 75% loss of energy is considered average. In biological reactions there is usually a 60% loss. Since all reactions are constantly losing a percentage of the energy they give, it is necessary to have a constant intake of energy to make up for what is lost.
Plutonium Essay Research Paper Plutonium239 an isotope
Plutonium Essay, Research Paper Plutonium-239 (an isotope of plutonium) is used in making nuclear weapons. Plutonium- 238 is used to power equipment on the moon by means of the heat it emits. Plutonium is also used in radionuclide batteries for pacemakers.
Halifax Explosion Essay Research Paper Hundreds Dead
Halifax Explosion Essay, Research Paper Hundreds Dead In Explosion At 8:45 AM, 6 Dec 1917, at the height of WWI, the Belgian Relief vessel Imo, through human error and negligence, collided with the French munitions carrier Mont Blanc in the narrowest part of Halifax harbor. Sparks generated by the collision ignited benzol stored on Mont Blanc’ s deck; the burning liquid then seeped into the holds, where it lit 2766 t of picric acid, TNT and guncotton.
Saint Helens Essay Research Paper Tracie Knowlton7th
Saint Helens Essay, Research Paper Tracie Knowlton 7th period Many things can happen before, during, and after a volcanic eruption. A volcanic eruption is an extraordinary thing. You never know what is going to turn out as in the end.
Silicon Snake Oil Essay Research Paper Silicon
Silicon Snake Oil Essay, Research Paper Silicon Snake OilSecond Thoughts on the Information HighwayClifford StollThe book Silicon Snake Oil : Second Thoughts On The Information Highway affected me bymaking me look at the internet and the information explosion of the 1990’s from a differentperspective.
Creationism Essay Research Paper Creationism Genesis 11In
Creationism Essay, Research Paper Creationism Genesis 1:1?In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.? This quote, taken from the Hebrew Bible describes the belief that religious Jews and Christians follow. These two religions think that man, the earth, and the rest of the universe were originally created instead of the theory of evolution.
Creation Vs Evolution Essay Research Paper OutlineTitle
Creation Vs. Evolution Essay, Research Paper Outline Title: Creation vs. Evolution or Scientific Creation Thesis: Creation vs. Evolution has been a hot topic with society for centuries. Just recently, in the mid-1980?s an new kid came on the block, Scientific Creation.
The Most Important Day Of My Life
Essay, Research Paper The Most Important Day of My Life The most important day of my life had just happened recently. It all started out when some friends and I were bored. We wanted to do something
Spanish American War Essay Research Paper The
Spanish American War Essay, Research Paper The Spanish and American War The Americans were brought into The Spanish and American War on February 15,1898. The Americans came into this war because a naval boat of ours called the Maine was blown up. On that boat, 327of our sailors were killed in the explosion.
Creation Vs Evolution Essay Research Paper Creation
Creation Vs Evolution Essay, Research Paper Creation vs evolution, was man created be an almighty god, or is he simply a product of modern science. This question has puzzled scholarly minds for many years and yet will for many to come. The one that makes the most sense to me and has the most supporting evidence, is evolution.
Potato Essay Research Paper The Andean Mountains
Potato Essay, Research Paper The Andean Mountains of South America is the birthplace of the “Irish” white potato that we eat today. European immigrants introduced potatoes to North America several times throughout the 1600s, but they were not widely grown for almost a century. Not until 1719, when Irish immigrants brought the potato to Londonderry, New Hampshire, were potatoes grown on a large scale.
The Safety Inspector Essay Research Paper The
The Safety Inspector Essay, Research Paper The Safety Inspector Mr. Redos, I am an inspector for the OSHA. I have noticed the following safety objects missing in the room F 203, chemistry room. These are sprinklers,
Kuwait Essay Research Paper LIBERATE KUWAIT CASEOn
Kuwait Essay, Research Paper LIBERATE KUWAIT CASE On August 2, 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait, the United States had to decide how to handle the situation. Should they use offensive force or will sanctions be
Three Famous Quatrains Essay Research Paper Three
Three Famous Quatrains Essay, Research Paper Three Famous Quatrains Michel de Nostredames or better known to the public as Nostradamus was a french physician and astrologer. He had a special ability to gaze into the future. Nostradamus wrote 946 cryptic quatrains that were predictions pertaining to the future, but only one dozen of his quatrains fulfilled the predictions.
Ballad Of Birmingham Essay Research Paper Dudley
Ballad Of Birmingham Essay, Research Paper Dudley Randall’s Ballad of Birmingham Dudley Randall’s Ballad of Birmingham gives a poetic account of the bombing of a Birmingham church in 1963. The poem was written in ballad form to convey the mood of the mother to her daughter. The author also gives a graphic account of what the 1960’s were like.
A Story About Wwf Essay Research
Paper A story about WWF “Welcome everybody to Raw IS War ! Tonight s main event is Sting verses Shawn Michaels for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Before we begin, here is a little information on the challenger, Sting,” announced Vince McCann.
Apollo 4 Essay Research Paper Apollo 4Introduction
Apollo 4 Essay, Research Paper Apollo 4 Introduction This paper is going to compare the Apollo 1 and the Challenger disasters. Both space programs were unfortunate disasters, caused by a series of oversights