Peter Sykora
School
Ellendale
High School
Home Town
Ellendale,
North Dakota
Grade(s) Taught
9,
11-12
Subject(s) Taught
Physics,
Chemistry, Physical Science, Advanced Biology
Number of Years Teaching
10
Hobbies
Running,
Biking, Golfing, Model Rocketry
Education
B.S.
in Biology - South Dakota State University - Brookings, South
Dakota - 1987
Professional Organizations
NSTA - National Science Teachers Association
NDSTA
- North Dakota Science Teachers Association
SDSTA
- South Dakota Science Teachers Association
E-Mail Address
Summer Workshops
T.R.U.E.
- Teacher Resource Update Experience - University of Florida
NEWMAST
- NASA Educational Workshop for Math, Science, and Technology
Teachers
- Dryden Flight Research Center - Edwards, California
CHEM
ED '97 - University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Teaching
and Technology Conference - North Dakota
C.I.I.
- Center for Innovation and Instruction - Train the Trainer
Program
North
Dakota Standards and Benchmarks
C.R.I.S.T.A.L.
- Chemistry Resources and Instructional Strategies for Teaching
All Learners
Photochemistry
Fundamentals
of Spectroscopy
WET
- Water Education for Teachers - North Dakota
Petroleum
in North Dakota
Lignite
Energy in North Dakota
Aerospace
Education Workshop - University of North Dakota - Aerospace Sciences
Research Project
I worked with Dr. David Jenkins in Aerospace Engineering to design an airfoil, which would provide greater lift and stability for micro air vehicles, or MAVs, at low altitudes and velocity. Adjusting the effective shape of the wing, we were testing designs that would allow the aircraft to maintain better lift.
Researchers at the University of Florida are looking at both the initial shape of the wing and at ways to adapt that shape to changing aerodynamic conditions. With the use of a recently modified wind tunnel, many shapes and sizes of airfoils and full-size MAVs will be tested to determine the ideal aerodynamic shape.
One of the hottest trends in aircraft design today is the development of smaller planes or MAVs. Micro Air Vehicles have a wingspan of less than six inches and travel at just 20 to 30 miles per hour.
More Information
Dr. David Jenkins - Associate Engineer - Department of Aerospace Engineering - daj@aero.ufl.edu
Related Web Site
http://www.aero.ufl.edu/~bfc/html/mav_mems.htm