Understanding Flight

Teacher's Notes

This unit is an introduction to Flight

Things to Emphasize

  1. When objects move through the air, nature imposes two forces on the object which try to pull it down and stop it from moving, these forces are weight and drag respectively.

  2. In order to achieve flight one must apply two forces to overcome weight and drag, these are called lift and thrust respectively.

  3. When thrust exceeds drag and lift exceeds weight an aerodynamically stable object will accelerate forwards and upwards.

  4. In straight and level flight at constant speed, lift exactly balances weight and drag exactly balances thrust.

Forces Acting on an Airplane in Flight

Transparency Master

There are four forces acting on an aircraft in flight, as shown in the diagram above.

In straight and level flight weight exactly balances lift and drag exactly balances thrust.

Drag, Thrust, Weight and Lift.

Concepts of Flight

Any object in which lift can be created to exceed weight can be made to fly!
  1. Understanding Drag
  2. Understanding Thrust
  3. Understanding Weight
  4. Understanding Lift

Consider the following
  1. Which two forces are "provided by nature" and which two forces must we provide in order to allow flight to occur?

  2. List and explain two ways one might reduce drag.

  3. List and explain two ways in which we might reduce weight.

  4. List and explain two ways in which you might increase lift

Key

Assessment Rubric

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