Lesson Plan Template For Cap Paper Airplane (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

Lesson plan 2011_Layout 1 4/19/11 5:06 PM Page 3

CAP P

ESSON

LAN FOR

APER

IRPLANE

Objective: To present the four forces of

4. Drag is the force that acts opposite to

a. The elevons act as elevators when

flight and experiment with airplane con-

the direction of motion. Drag, caused

turned in the same direction: when

trol surfaces through the use of a paper air-

by air resistance, slows an airplane.

both elevons are turned up, the plane

plane.

moves upward (ascends); when both

The way the four forces act on the airplane

elevons are turned down, the plane

makes the plane do different things. Each

National Science Content Standards:

moves downward (descends).

force has an opposite force that works

(Source: National Research Council)

b. The elevons act as ailerons when one

against it. Lift works opposite of gravity.

Science as Inquiry

elevon is turned up and the other

Thrust works opposite of drag. When the

– Abilities necessary to do scientific

down, which will make the airplane

forces are balanced, a plane flies in a level

inquiry

roll to the left or the right when

direction. The plane goes upward if lift is

– Understanding about scientific

thrown.

greater than weight. The plane will go

inquiry

downward if weight is greater than lift.

Procedures:

Physical Science

The plane will accelerate forward when

1. Fold the paper plane following the

– Motions and forces

thrust is greater than drag. The plane will

directions on the next page.

Science and Technology

slow down when drag is greater than

2. Experiment with angles of throws,

– Abilities of technological design

thrust.

angles of elevons, and amount of thrust

Unifying Concepts and Processes

to determine how to control the flight.

– Evidence, models and explanations

The airplane has many moveable surfaces

3. Have contests to determine highest

– Form and function

that work to control the direction of move-

flights, longest flights aloft, best control

ment of the airplane.

of direction, and best target mark.

Background Information:

1. The flaps, on the inside of each wing

There are four forces acting on an airplane

toward the fuselage (body) of the plane,

Assessment: Have students identify the

in flight: lift, gravity, thrust, and drag. A

work to slow the speed of the plane,

forces of flight and the surfaces that cause

force is a push or a pull, and the four

adding the force of “drag.”

the plane to change direction by answering

forces of flight affect the direction and

2. The ailerons, on the outside end of each

these questions.

motion of the airplane.

wing, work to make the airplane “roll”

1. Air flowing over and under the wings

when one aileron is up and the other is

Lift

creates the force of __________.

down.

2. __________is the force that pulls the

3. The rudder, on the vertical stabilizer,

airplane down and is the opposite of lift.

turns the plane left or right.

Drag

4. The elevators, located on the rear of the

3. The engines provide the force of

airplane, move, or pitch, the plane

____________.

upward or downward.

Thrust

4. ____________ is the force working to

slow the plane’s motion.

5. The movable part on the horizontal sta-

Gravity

bilizer that moves the plane up and

down is the ___________.

1. Lift is the force that holds an airplane in

6. A movable part that is “part aileron and

the air. The wings create most of the lift

due to the wing’s special shape and how

part elevator” and allows the plane to

air flows over the wing. The slower air

roll or move up or down is called the

moving under the wing creates a higher

_____________.

pressure which helps push the wing up.

On the paper glider you will be making,

2. Gravity is the force that pulls every-

some of the parts (which are labeled on the

thing toward the ground. This “pulling

next page) include:

down force” is what causes something

1. The vertical stabilizer at the rear of the

Additional Resources:

to have weight that can be measured on

plane which stabilizes and controls the

1. Web site with interactive airplane parts

a scale.

plane’s flight.

and comparison to Wright Brothers air-

3. Thrust is a force that moves an object in

2. The two winglets located on the tip of

plane

can

found

at:

the direction of the motion. It can be

each wing which help increase lift and

created with a propeller, jet engine, or

reduce drag.

ers/classroomActivities/k-3_flash.html

rocket. With a propeller or jet engine,

3. The two “elevons” at the rear of the

2. Web site for additional information on

air is pulled in and then pushed out in an

plane are a combination of the ailerons

forces of flight can be found at:

opposite direction. Throwing an object

and elevators and work to make the

creates thrust, as well.

plane rise, fall, and/or roll.

12/airplane/forces.html

Lesson Plan Template For Cap Paper Airplane Page 3

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