Flight Challenge
Today you will need to do some research about flight & aviation! What are they? Where do they come from? You must be an investigator and figure this out. Use any resources available to you (articles, videos, etc.). Take your time to prepare this. When this is complete you will go in the shop with Mrs. Hagedorn to create your glider. Gliders will be launched with our catapult.
Forces of Flight: Thrust, Lift, Weight, and Drag are all forces that act on an aircraft. Each of these forces has a position and direction that is acting on the airplane. The force of lift must be greater than the force of weight for the airplane to rise. Likewise, thrust force must be greater than drag force to keep the aircraft moving forward.
Your Task: Prepare a Google Slideshow following the Engineering Design Process
Slides:
- Title slide - Flight Challenge
- Step 1 - Identify the problem
- Step 2 - Research the problem
- Step 3 - Brainstorm solutions
- Step 4 - Choose a solution
- Step 5 & 6 - Create & test prototype
- Step 7 - Improve & redesign
Slide 1: Title and Name of any Partners
Slide 2: Identify the Problem
- Describe what you will do in your own words.
- Design Challenge: Your design challenge is to engineer a balsa wood glider that maximizes air time (duration). Like every design challenge that engineers face, there are variables and constraints that must be considered. These variables and constraints are the specifications and tolerances that must be followed in order to ensure that the design works as specified. Specifications are written descriptions of the size, shape, materials and other details of a design. Tolerances define the allowable differences, and minimums and maximums in the size of a part. Your design must meet the following specifications and tolerances.
- What is a force?
- Explain the four forces of flight.
- How does an airplane move? Explain the three key axes that define this movement: Roll (longitudinal), Pitch (lateral), and Yaw (vertical).
- What is center of gravity and why is it important for airplanes?
- Include at least 4 designs you find online and one that you draw (Using Google Draw or similar).
- Draw your design template on paper (using a ruler!) or print out your Google Draw.
- Include dimensions on your drawing.
- Label the following parts: fuselage, wings, stabilizer, fin Notice the maximum dimensions below.
- Fuselage, 3mm (⅛") thick x 13mm (½") wide x 300mm (11⅞") long
- Wing, 1.5mm (1/16") thick x 77mm (3") wide x 300mm (11⅞") long
- c. stabilizer and fin, .75mm (1/32") thick x 51mm (2") wide x 150mm (5⅞") long
- d. wooden shark’s tooth hook, 3mm (⅛") thick x 6.5mm (¼") wide x 20mm (¾") long, glued to the bottom of the fuselage; a shark’s tooth cut into the fuselage will also be permitted.
- Answer the following on your slide:
- Why are you choosing this solution?
- What tools will you need to create your derby car?
Show Mrs. Hagedorn your design so that you can construct your glider in the shop.
Slide 6: Create & Test your design
- Describe how you made your glider.
- What problems did you have?
- How did it fly? What was your longest time?
- How well does your final glider match your design idea chosen in step 4?
- What improvements could you make?
- What was your favorite thing about this project?
Share your completed slides with Mrs. Hagedorn and complete the Unit Quiz and Aviation Follow-Up
Helpful Resources