Worksheet
Curated OER

Forces in Fluids

For Students 7th - 9th
In this forces in fluids worksheet, learners answer questions as they relate to forces in fluids. Students complete a chart about atmospheric pressure.
Lesson Plan
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NASA

Rocket Wind Tunnel

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Using a teacher-built wind tunnel constructed from a paper concrete tube form, a fan, and a balance, individuals determine the amount of drag their rocket design will experience in flight. Pupils make modifications to increase the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing and Refining Aircraft Design

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars design and make a flying device. They work in small groups to brainstorm ideas for the design of their device. They choose an idea or combination of ideas to use for their design and create a sketch of their design. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Things Fly

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explain basic principles of aeronautics such as gravity and lift. In this How Things Fly lesson, students visit the interactive, hands-on How Things Fly gallery at the Smithsonian. Students perform three experiments that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dayna Lykins, Leanna Prater

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders compare and contrast gliding flight and true flight. They investigate the basic principles of aeronautics. The class participates in activities to observe lift and the effect of air. Students design and fly their own...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Physics of Flight

For Students 7th - 12th
In this flight worksheet, students will review the physics behind flight including lift, acceleration, and thrust. Students will also understand the Bernoulli effect. This worksheet has 6 true or false, 6 short answer, and 8 matching...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Physics of Space Flight

For Students 9th - 12th
In this space flight instructional activity, learners will review physics terms relating to space which includes measuring the distance of space objects, how rockets work, and electromagnetic waves. This instructional activity has 10...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

IS MASS THE SAME AS WEIGHT?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Pupils see the difference between weight and mass when they examine the method of measuring each of them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Altitude and Flight Forces

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers use the World Wide Web to access and use FoilSim. They also use the World Wide Web to access the NASA Glenn Web site for information relative to the factors involved with the flight of an airplane.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Things Fly

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Learners research the mechanics of flight and create a slideshow with one slide dedicated to each of these topics: lift, drag, thrust, and weight. They create a short quiz regarding the material that they presented and give it to their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Look Mom, No Wings!

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners explain how drag, weight, lift and thrust work together to make something fly. For this physics lesson, students measure their jump height and record data on the table. They reason out why they can't remain airborne for long.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Things Fly

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students, by drawing on their own experiences, discuss and examine the basic physics of flight. They participate in a variety of activities regarding flight.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Swinging on a String

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore how pendulums work and why they are useful in everyday applications. In a hands-on activity, they experiment with string length, pendulum weight and angle of release.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Center of Gravity Problem Set

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars read a NASA Web-based text, then demonstrate an understanding of the text by using it to complete an activity on the center of gravity of a commercial cargo airplane.
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Catapults

For Students 4th - 8th
Ready, aim, fire! Launch to a new level of understanding as scholars build and test their own catapults. Learners explore lever design and how adjusting the fulcrum changes the outcome. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aviation, Aeronautics and Aerodynamics

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students investigate the physics of flight through various experiments. In this physics lesson, students construct different flying objects. They explain the dynamics that make these object fly.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How do engineless planes stay aloft?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore how a plane can stay aloft. In this engineless airplane flying lesson, 5th graders experiment to find how the design of a plane and Bernoulli's principle keep planes in the air. Student's create a plane and answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leaving on A Jet Plane

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students create an airplane by listening to directions. They also to measure the pieces for the airplane and compare and contrast their test flights.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Full of Hot Air

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students investigate technology and its many designs to make our lives easy. In this science instructional activity, students build a hot air balloon and answer specific questions about weight and rides in the hot air balloon. They...
Activity
It's About Time

Defy Gravity

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Test the limits of gravity while encouraging full class participation with this thrilling lesson. Pupils investigate the meaning of work and how it is equivalent to energy. They explore the joule and apply it as a unit of work. They...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Paper Helicopters

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this paper helicopter worksheet, students design and experiment making a paper helicopter to explore how some things fall and how varying the size of the rotor blades affect the way a helicopter spins.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Work

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore what work is, measure work done in moving an object, and tell how energy is related to work in both machines and the human body. In this measuring work lesson plan, students walk up a flight of stairs, measure the height...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aerodynamics

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover the basic principles of aerodynamics, including the roles and identity of natural forces involved. They examine how the force of gravity is overcome by the curved shape of an airplane wing and air pressure.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Airplane Wings

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the aerodynamics of a wing and how it generates lift.  In this flight instructional activity students complete several experiments including how to build a paper plane and how airfoils affect performance.