Teach Engineering
Balsa Glider Competition
Change one variable and try again. Teams build basic balsa gliders and collect data on their flight distances and times. Through collaboration, the team decides on two modifications to make to the basic design and collect data for the...
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The Aspect Ratio of Wings
Junior engineers examine aspect ration in airplane wings. Using the length and width of two differetn wings, they calculate the aspect ratios and compare drag rankings. An engineering or space science class would benefit from this...
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The Lift Equation Problem Set
Students, after reading the Lift Equation page from a NASA Web-based textbook, demonstrate an understanding of the lift equation by answering questions.
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What Makes Airplanes Fly?
Students examine force and conduct activities that model parachutes and helicopters. In this airplanes lesson students identify the forces that make airplanes fly higher and land.
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Design of Airfoil for Given Lift
Pupils use FoilSim to design an airplane wing that generates a given lift. As they change parameters such as airspeed, altitude, angle of attack, thickness and curvature of the airfoil, and size of the wing area, the software calculates...
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Lift Relationships
Students use FoilSim (downloadable) to determine how lift is affected by varying parameters on the Airfoil simulation.
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Showing the Lift Equation
Pupils read an explanation from a NASA Web-based textbook, then demonstrate an understanding of the text by using it, along with FoilSim, to complete an activity that manipulates the lift coefficient equation.
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MAKE IT FLY
Students utilize the process of scientific inquiry and technological design to explain thrust, weight, lift and drag in flight. They design an "airplane" to test the "mechanics" of flight. In addition, they brainstorm and sketch a design...
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Nosedive
Learners use paper to design an airplane. In this airplane experiment instructional activity, students use their airplane to perform experiments with lift and drag. Learners make changes in their planes and observe the differences when...
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Applied Science -Technology (6B) Pre Lab
Sixth graders discuss how simple machines overcome friction. In this simple machine lesson plan, 6th graders review the parts of a plane and how they make up for gravity and friction. They roll different objects down an inclined board...
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Understanding the Four Forces of Flight
In this four forces of flight worksheet, students read a 1 page article on flights, answer 5 questions with multiple choice answers, draw a line to connect the four forces to their definitions and answer 1 short answer scenario.
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Get a Lift!
Students explain the principles of flight. In this physics instructional activity, students perform a series of exploration activity on Bernoulli's principle. They relate this principle to airplane flight.
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Four Forces of Flight
Students explore the four forces of flight. They investigate the four forces of flight: lift, drag, thrust and weight (gravity). They experiment with flight-testing various objects commonly found around the house and constructing paper...
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Wing Area Effects Problem Set
Students read an explanation from a NASA Web-based textbook on lift and an explanation on the FoilSim software package given below. They use FoilSim to evaluate the relationship between wing area and lift.
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Using Graphs to Compare
Students use the FoilSim computer simulation program, and demonstrate an understanding of the lift variables by explaining their graphical representations. They demonstrate an understanding of forces and motion.
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Up, Up, and Away
Students investigate the laws of physics that govern the flight of helicopters and airplanes. They build and launch a model rotor, simulating rotors used on helicopters to provide lift.
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Exploring Aerodynamics
Students explore aerodynamics. For this aerodynamics lesson, students study the flight patterns of three paper airplanes and discover the underlying principles of aerodynamics. Resources and grade level modifications are present.
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#22c Airplane flight #22d Airplane flight--How High? How Fast?
Students discuss the application of frames of reference to an airplane flying with a constant velocity v through the air.
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Airplane flight
Students learn the basic concepts about airplane flight. They learn the reason jetliner wings are swept back and why jet engines have replaced propellers in high-speed flight.
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The Science of Airplane Flight
Students define terms, explain Bernoulli's principle and identify the control surfaces of an airplane. For this investigative lesson students complete a lab activity.
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Lift Equation Problem Set
Students, after reading an explanation from a NASA Web-based textbook, demonstrate an understanding of the text by using it, along with FoilSim, to complete an activity to graph and interpret the lift equation.
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Characteristics of Lift and Wing Area
Students use FoilSim to complete the activity and investigate the factors that affect lift and how wing area and lift are related.
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Introduction to Flight: A Math, Science and Technology Integrated Project
Seventh graders review graphing procedures and practice locating points using x,y coordinates. Students calculate the areas of the top and bottom surfaces of the airfoil. They construct a test model of the airfoil.
CK-12 Foundation
Linear, Exponential, and Quadratic Models: Bernoulli Effect
How can an object as heavy as an airplane fly? Turns out the answer is quadratic! Your classes explore the Bernoulli Effect through an interactive graph representation. As a plane increases in speed, the lift force also increases. Young...