lesson plan for paper airplane simple truths kids drawing of feet

Engineers often build small-scale aircraft models to test how they fly, avoiding the expense of testing at full-size, and they experiment with many different designs to find the best one. The process of iterative design helps engineers learn from the mistakes of previous designs. Since drag slows down airplanes and makes them less efficient, the goal is to design planes that reduce drag. When designing airplanes, engineers also keep in mind the force of drag and the principle of energy conservation. To create thrust, engineers may use propellers, jets or rockets the heavier the airplane, the more thrust required to move it. Engineers also design systems that create an action called thrust (utilizing Newton's third law of motion). So, when engineers design airplanes, they minimize weight when choosing materials and parts, while still assuring strength and safety. Every additional part or piece on an airplane adds weight that makes it harder for it to overcome the force of gravity. Weight is another important aspect of aircraft design that engineers take into consideration. Engineers manipulate air pressure to create lift they design wings so that the air moves faster over the top than under them, causing aircraft to lift during takeoff and during flight.

Engineers take advantage of the nature of air pressure so their designs of these and many other applications, function correctly, efficiently and safely. The forces caused by moving air enable airplanes to fly and trains to slow. In designing airplanes, trains, cars, rockets and bicycles-nearly everything that moves through the air-engineers must understand Bernoulli's principle. This engineering curriculum aligns to Next Generation Science Standards ( NGSS). Students learn about different kinds of airplanes and then design and build their own balsa wood airplanes based on what they have learned.

The final lessons addresses societal and technological impacts that airplanes have had on our world. Following these lessons, students learn how airplanes are controlled and use paper airplanes to demonstrate these principles. Next, students explore the other three forces acting on airplanes-thrust, weight and drag. The airplanes unit begins with a lesson on how airplanes create lift, which involves a discussion of air pressure and how wings use Bernoulli's principle to change air pressure.

Lesson plan for paper airplane simple truths kids drawing of feet