This lesson gives students some background information on the Wright Brothers and shows a comparison between gliders and airplanes. Students will also learn about wing design and the importance of weight and balance. The main focus will be understanding the Four Forces of Flight – Lift, Thrust, Drag and Weight.
(Most appropriate for grade levels 5-10.)
NOTE: If requesting both of our Flight lesson (this one and Flight – Testing Weight and Balance) this one should be scheduled first.
Science Standards:
4.PS.2: Energy can be transferred from one location to another or can be transformed from one form to another.
5.PS.1:The amount of change in movement of an object is based on the mass of the object and the amount of force exerted.
6.PS.3:There are two categories of energy: kinetic and potential.
6.PS.4: An object's motion can be described by its speed and the direction in which it is moving.
7.PS.3: Energy can be transformed or transferred but is never lost.
7.PS.4: Energy can be transferred through a variety of ways.
8.PS.2: Forces can act to change the motion of objects.
High School Standards:
P.F.1: Newton's laws applied to complex problems.
P.F.5: Air resistance and drag.
PS.FM.2: Forces • Force diagrams • Types of forces (gravity, friction, normal, tension) • Field model for forces at a distance .
PS.FM.3: Dynamics (how forces affect motion) • Objects at rest • Objects moving with constant velocity • Accelerating objects.
STEM Emerging Technology Connections:
Space Technology: This "Forces of Flight: Glider Testing" lesson, exploring the four forces of flight using balsa wood gliders, connects directly to Space Technology. The lesson focuses on lift, thrust, drag, and weight, which are fundamental principles in aerodynamics and crucial for the design and operation of all aircraft, including those used in space exploration. The hands-on experimentation with gliders allows students to explore how these forces interact and influence flight performance, mirroring the experimental approach used in aerospace engineering.