Students should already know a little something about:
- the Four Forces of Flight (lift, thrust, drag, and weight)
This activity is designed to help students learn about the components of an aircraft and to examine the effects of weight and balance on a glider. We continue with our information on the Wright Brothers and review the comparison between gliders and airplanes, wing design and the importance of weight and balance.
(Most appropriate for grade levels 5-10.)
NOTE: If requesting both of our Flight lessons (this one and Forces of Flight – Glider Testing) this one should be scheduled second.
Science Standards:
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 "Flight - Testing Weight and Balance" lesson, involving building and testing both paper and Styrofoam gliders, connects strongly to Space Technology. The lesson focuses on the principles of weight, balance, and lift, which are crucial for aircraft design and performance, including those used in space exploration. The hands-on activity of building and testing gliders provides a practical exploration of these concepts, mirroring the experimental approach used in aerospace engineering. The iterative testing and adjustment process also aligns with the design and optimization cycles employed in developing aerospace vehicles.