KNOW WHY THIS FLAG LIKE STRUCTURE IS USED IN AIRPORTS !!

You might have seen these flag-like objects on airports and wondered what are these used for. This cone-like object plays a vital role in the aviation industry. In this article, we are going to discuss the importance and purpose of this object.

These objects are known as industrial windsocks or “wind cones” or sometimes “air cones”. It is a kind of kite tube manufactured from synthetic cloth, nylon or rubber in the shape of an ice cream cone that is open at one end by a stiff metal ring.

The main purpose of safety aviation windsocks installed on airfields, international airports, helipads, and heliports is to give the pilot a quick reference about wind direction and the approximate wind speed. Pilots need to calculate wind velocity during take-off and landing to ensure it is safe for the aircraft. The wind direction and speed can directly impact the distance a plane needs to travel on the ground before taking off or coming to a stop on the runway. Before accelerating before take-off, pilots take a quick glance at it and give the necessary input while strolling down the runway.

Although most airports also provide more accurate weather information for pilots, from automated weather observation systems but sometimes the windsock is the only indication of wind speed and direction.

Working of windsock:

Windsocks may be solid orange, yellow, or white and should not have any lettering or logos. The ones that are the best indicators of wind speed, however, have alternating colors—such as orange and white—or have stripes at key points.

The wind direction is the opposite of the direction in which the windsock is pointing. This means if the wind blowing from the West the windsock would point towards the East.

Windsock is made to orient against the wind when the wind speed reaches three knots (3.5 mph). At that wind speed, only the first segment of the windsock will extend. The second segment of the sock extends when the wind speed has reached six knots; the third segment, nine knots; and the fourth segment, 12 knots. At a wind speed of 15 knots (17 mph) or more, the windsock will fully extend and point away from the direction from which the wind originates.

Windsock data is used in every aspect of aviation, not just at airports large and small. In addition to being applied at military airstrips and private airfields, and at commercial or domestic helipads, windsocks are also used in areas where people take paragliding or parachute flights. You may even spot a windsock at a hot air balloon launch and landing site, to assist in safe flying.

KNOW WHY POLICE LIGHTS ARE RED AND BLUE INSTEAD OF JUST RED!

You might have seen police vehicles installed with red and blue light. Have you ever wondered why this combination is chosen? Can’t be there any other colour? Let us find out the answer in this article.

The aim of the police vehicle is to generate a sense of alertness among the people. These lights have a call to action which is to indicate people either slow down or stop. In nature, red is a warning color. We’re all programmed to respond when we see red colors— that’s why stop signs are red, for example. Red is a color of alertness, awareness, paying attention, and being cautious which are exactly the things police cars want people to do when they see a police light.

But, we see many colours on the road like white light of the headlamp of vehicle, yellow light of fog lamp and red light of the tail light. But we hardly see any blue light. So, in order to prevent the mixing of the red light of police vehicles with the tail light of other vehicles, additional light is added to make it stand out. As blue light is hardly present on roads, this light is chosen as an additional color.

Thus, a sense of urgency is created by red light, and to make it stand out, blue light is added. Also, it has been theorized that red lights are easier to see during the day, while blue lights are more likely to be visible at night. According to this theory, blue and red flashing lights are therefore adaptable and will be able to warn road users and pedestrians of a police vehicle’s presence regardless of the time of day. 

Finally, some experts believe using both red and blue lights eliminate problems associated with people who are colorblind. People who have trouble seeing red often have no trouble seeing blue. Using both red and blue lights thus helps to alert everyone, even those with colorblindness 

Although, the exact color of police lights varies by state, for the most part, red and blue are the norm. As mentioned above, red and blue flashing lights, when used with a police siren have a number of benefits that help to alert other road users of the presence of a police vehicle, which in turn makes the roads safer for everyone else to use. 

KNOW WHY BRICKS ARE SOAKED IN WATER BEFORE USING !!

You might have seen builders or constructors or daily labors soak the bricks in water before it is used in construction. Have you ever wondered why bricks are soaked in water? In this article, we will understand the reason for soaking the bricks in water before using them.

Bricks are one of the most important building materials used in construction. It is available in rectangular shapes and has standard dimensions. Brick masonry is a great art of construction in which bricks are laid systematically with respect to bonding, jointing, and finishing. In brick masonry, bricks are bonded together with the help of mortar (Cement + Sand+Water). The strength of brick masonry majorly depends upon the quality of brick and type of mortar. 

The process of completely immersing the brick into water is known as soaking. Bricks are porous in nature and have a tendency to absorb moisture. When the brick to be used for construction are soaked in water, the air is released and it absorbs water. Now when the soaked brick is used, it will not absorb any water from the wet mortar. If the brick absorbs water from the mortar and this will reduce the strength of the mortar to a great extent. Thus, it will fail to make a strong bond between bricks and mortar. Ultimately, it will make the bonding of masonry wall weak.

Also, the dirt and soluble salts present on the bricks get removed by soaking them in water.

Bricks should be soaked in water before use for a period so that the water penetrates the entire depth of the bricks. Normally it is suggested to soak bricks for atleast 12 hours. Soaking of bricks should be continued till air bubbling ends.

So, these are the reasons for soaking the brick in water before using. Hope you might have got a clear picture of this topic. Thank you for reading the article.