Flight Physics

Lighter Than Air Vehicles (LTAV)

Introduction:

The purpose of this problem-solving activity is to teach you, the student, the science associated with non-powered flight, in this example, balsa wood gliders. In addition, students will learn the physics of powered flight by experimenting with different control surface adjustments on their glider. This unit also ties in with the hot air balloon activity involving lighter than air vehicles (LTAV). A primary benefit from this activity is it is designed to force you to research, choose and construct different glider designs that will enable your glider to travel as far as possible down range with accuracy.

Objective:

• Design and construct a balsa wood glider to travel as far as possible down range with accuracy.

• Students must research, design and construct their glider by researching the technology using the Internet or other source material.

• Students can collaborate and trade ideas with peers, but each student will build their own glider.

• Students must design and construct a glider that travels at least 20'

• Gliders cannot roll, rotate, tumble or invert in flight.

• Gliders must be sturdy enough to survive landings intact.

Gliders must GLIDE. Gliders must survive multiple landings INTACT !!!

Safety:

• Watch this ESSENTIAL Tool training and safety tips (Craft Knife) video on safely using the hobby knife

• Reference the websites below to score 100% on the Craft Knife Safety Test

• Students must score a 100% on the test before receiving supplies for constructing your glider.

Instructions:

• Complete the Balsa Glider Webquest, reference the following websites to find the answers to questions on the worksheet/crossword puzzle

  • Gliders (NASA)

  • Glider Control Surfaces

  • Tail Designs

  • DESIGN TIPS !!!

• Students should search other sources for information on independent variables that effect glider performance before constructing their glider.

Supplies:

• • Balsa wood fuselage

  • Balsa wood and tag board sheet used to construct glider control surfaces (rudder, ailerons, elevator, fin, wing, etc...)

  • Ballast to redistribute weight in order to improve glider performance (paper clips, binder clips, pennies, modeling clay, etc...)

  • Low Temp glue slugs

  • Scissors (Craft or Exacto Knife with teacher's permission)

  • Paint or markers

  • Low temp hot glue gun and slugs

Enrichment:

• Learn flight physics by experimenting with different types and weights of ballast. Also change the center of gravity on the plane by moving the ballast.

• Experiment with different control surface angles. Click on the following graphic and follow the instruction to practice using control surfaces to guide your plane.

Adjust your control surfaces by bending the card stock on the ailerons, vertical and horizontal stabilizers shown below:

Assessment:

Glider Physics and Craft Knife Safety Test

Glider Design, Construction and Testing

Whitewings

Let's fly some planes !!!

For your challenge you will be designing, constructing and testing an electric powered model plane that travels around a pole 10 times and lands safely within a pre-specified time period !!!

Introduction:

Get a copy of the Flight Vocabulary AND/OR Flight Crossword Puzzle, use the Internet AND/OR the Teaching with Model Airplanes booklet as a resource to find the definition to the terms in this worksheet.

Enrichment Activity:

Once you have completed the Flight Vocabulary worksheet, learn the physics of flight by closing Google Chrome, launch your Internet Explorer browser ---> click on the following link ---> FoilSim select "Run" when requested and follow the instructions on the screen and below to design a wing with a lift capability of over 1,000,000 pounds..

Your goal is to design a wing to generate a minimum of 1,000,000 pounds of lift. Click on the 'flight', 'shape' and 'size' buttons to change your wing. The amount of lift your wing generates is located below these buttons. Pay close attention to airspeed, angle of attack and altitude.

When you have successfully designed your wing, turn on your call light and your instructor will check your work.

Instructions:

Launch the following videos for a demonstration on designing and constructing your electric powered foam airplane:

Launch the "How Things Fly" crossword puzzle, the following link: How Things Fly and reference the word bank below to assist in completing the crossword puzzle. When you have completed the puzzle, turn on your call light and your teacher will check your work.

• winglets

• vortex

• turbulent

• laminar

• weight

• lift

• thrust

• drag

• aerodynamics

  • vacuum

  • subsonic

  • supersonic

  • flight

• buoyancy

• decrease

• increase

• pressure

• friction

• boundary

• propulsion

You will be tested on the material presented in this unit, do your best to learn it.

When you have successfully completed the worksheet, follow the instructions on how to test your plane. Your assignment is to take-off, make ten successful revolutions of the power pole and land safely.

Good luck!

Assessments:

Flight Vocabulary

Foil Sim Challenge

How Things Fly Crossword

Electric Plane, Ten Revolutions around Pole

Electric Plane, Land Safely

Flight Physics Test

Links:

• NASA Paper Airplane Lab

References:

How Things Fly, March 2015, Link: How Things Fly Crossword Puzzle