How Airplanes Fly

How Airplanes FlyThese slides are designed to help you find computer resources that can be included in modeling the teaching of science, history and technology of flight.

To Dream of FlyingMan has always dreamed of flying.Who demonstrated the first model hot air balloon before the Montgolfier brothers?

Find out more about the history of flight in the Featured Links.

A Dream Come TrueIn the 1400s Leonardo de Vinci designed a magnificent flying machine.500 years later man succeeded in flying.

EmphasisResearch the World Wide Web. Use interactive websites to learn more about:The history of flight.

EmphasisResearch the World Wide Web. Use interactive websites to learn more about:The history of flight.The principles of flight.

EmphasisResearch the World Wide Web. Use interactive websites to learn more about:The history of flight.The principles of flight.Computer-based demonstrations and simulations.

Web ResearchThe Internet is a great place to do research. You can use it to find information on a topic of interest or to find resources to use in class.

Find out more about Internet searching from the NetSearch modules in the Web Library.

Learning from DemonstrationsSee the loose end from a roll of toilet paper fly by using a hair dryer.

Demonstrations can be used to gain students attention and teach concepts. The Internet contains a plethora of great demonstrations to use with your classes.

Jets versus PropellersCompare principles of jet planes and propeller driven planes. Use the Internet for your exploration.Check out the LDAPS sample curriculum at the NASA site in Featured Links.

The Four Principles of FlightBernoullis Law is a consequence of Newtons Laws.Can you identify which of Newtons Laws is behind each of the four principles of flight?

NASA sells an inexpensive interactive CD that helps students explore flight through simulations. Check out Exploring Aeronautics in the Supporting Material.

Its FlyingAirplane flight is explained by :Newtons Third Law.Conservation of Momentum.Coanda Effect.

Find out more about these principles on the Internet. You can even see a movie demonstrating the Coanda Effect in Featured Links.

Wing DesignAs you research on the Internet to find out about how airplanes fly, you will find some information will conflict with other information.The way wings work is a prime example of a topic that generates confusing explanations.Check out conflicting ideas about wings and the Coanda Effect in an article and critique found in Supporting Material.

More information about wings can be found in Supporting Material.

ThrustOther key features of flight are the engines. They provide the vital thrust to get planes in the air and keep them moving.Look at the interactive sites online that allow you manipulate the parameters that produce thrust.

Check out more about thrust in the Supporting Material.

Airplane DesignThere are many different designs for aircraft. Using the computer to change wing size, body length, and other features, can provide students with valuable concept development experiences.

The Internet has several Airplane Design sites. See Featured Links and Supporting Material.

Wind TunnelsAt a whopping 80x120 feet, this is the largest wind tunnel in the world. It is located at NASAs Ames Research Center in California.A real working model of a wind tunnel can be built as a class project and used to test different shapes.

Online wind tunnel designs can be found in Featured Links

The Role of TechnologyWhat are ways computers are used in the field of aeronautics?How have airplanes changed our lives?As you study the history of flight, consider both of these questions.Use the Internet as a resource for creating a scrapbook around the development of flying machines.

Remember - always get permission before copying anything from the Internet.

T-6 TexanThe AT-6 advanced trainer was one of the most widely used aircraft in history. More about the history of these planes can be found in the web military site www.af.mil search menu.

A pair of vintage T-6 Texans. Photo provided by the U.S. Air Force.

History of Flight SimulationLearning with simulators can be almost as beneficial as the real thing. Flight simulators have existed since man first started flying planes.

Learn more about the history of flight simulators in the Featured Links.

Flight InstrumentsYou can teach all about an airplanes instrumentation without ever climbing into a plane. There are web sites that explain the function of each dial. Some of the sites are interactive.

Try the Cyber cockpit in Supporting Material.

Comparing Instrument PanelsDiscover the evolution of the airplane instrument panel and compare different panels using Internet research.The study of how instrument panels have changed is a combination of a study in history, science and technology.

Some sites can be found in Supporting Material including a how to fly using an instrument panel.

Paper AirplanesDesigning and flying paper airplanes are fun ways to experiment with and learn about how airplanes fly.Online resources provide paper airplane design ideas, templates, and even simulations.

Check out one of out favorite paper airplane sites in Featured Links.

Airplanes in CombatA rich history of the role of the airplane in combat can be found by searching the Internet. Students can follow the development of combat aircraft from the WWI Flying Circus to the latest unmanned combat plane.

For a twist on the concept of combat pilots, research female combat pilots.

Aircraft CarriersHow can a plane launch and land on a ship at sea?The first sea launch was a biplane that took off in a rainstorm. Was it successful? Find the answer in the Featured Link site named below.

The U.S. Navy has created a website called Evolution of Aircraft Carriers that can be found in Featured Links.

Real PeopleScience and history are the results of real people doing real things.Search the Internet for letters, stories, documents, newspaper articles, etc. detailing who the people behind the inventions and heroic deeds were.

Flight SimulatorsFlight simulation programs and games can be good learning tools to help students understand flying from the pilots perspective. They can also motive students to learn more about the science involved.Flight simulation games on CDs are easy to find both online and in stores.Some flight simulation programs are sold by science education companies.

A free downloadable flight simulation program can be found in Featured Links.

Gauging FlightUse the discussion of gauges to teach about concepts in flying.Some examples could be:Ground speed versus air speed.Altitude (sea level versus ground).Directions (NSEW versus angles).

ComputersComputers can simulate weather and terrain conditions.A downloadable demo that allows the user to experience flying over various landforms is found on the Internet.

Find the demo in Featured Links. Also check the Supporting Material for more downloadable sites.

Computer GamesComputer flight simulation games just keep getting better. You might also want to try downloading a free demo of one.

Virtual RealityAs technology improves, three dimensional virtual reality is becoming more popular. The ideas behind the technology are more than 50 years old.Use the Internet to check out new types of equipment and simulation programs that use 3-D virtual reality.

CatapultsAs big as an aircraft carrier is, it is pretty small when it comes to launching and landing hi tech aircraft.Catapults have been used to launch airplanes for 100 years. Follow its development and adoption for use on aircraft carriers.

Look in Featured Links for Catapults.

Airplanes Do FlyUse an interdisciplinary approach to teach about flight through physical science principles, history and the development of technology tools.The computer can be used for research, demonstrations, simulations and to capture the excitement of learning about flight.