The force of gravity affects every object on earth the same way, regardless of their mass. That's why a light paper ball and a heavy softball will hit the ground at the same time if dropped from the same position. If the force of gravity is the same for all objects, adding weight to an airplane wouldn't affect it's flight, right? Or would it?
Students should explore how weight and gravity affects flying objects. By doing so, they will learn that to stay in the air, the weight of a plane must be overcome by another force (lift). When weight is added to a plane, there must be more lift or it will not stay up. The same thing applies to birds. The bigger the bird, the more lift they must create to fly. In other words, weight and lift oppose each other and must be equal for sustained flight. How flying objects obtain lift will be explored in depth later.
Background information you should know: Gravity is the downward force that pulls an object toward the ground. Weight is the force exerted on objects by gravity. Weight must be overcome by the upward force "lift" to achieve sustained flight.
Here are some resources you and the student can explore to investigate how weight affects flying objects. They fit into the Nova Scotia Grade 6 Science Curriculum by exploring the outcome: Learners will evaluate factors that influence flight.
1) Activity: Weighted Planes. An activity created by me to address how weight affects the flight distance of paper planes.
Students should explore how weight and gravity affects flying objects. By doing so, they will learn that to stay in the air, the weight of a plane must be overcome by another force (lift). When weight is added to a plane, there must be more lift or it will not stay up. The same thing applies to birds. The bigger the bird, the more lift they must create to fly. In other words, weight and lift oppose each other and must be equal for sustained flight. How flying objects obtain lift will be explored in depth later.
Background information you should know: Gravity is the downward force that pulls an object toward the ground. Weight is the force exerted on objects by gravity. Weight must be overcome by the upward force "lift" to achieve sustained flight.
Here are some resources you and the student can explore to investigate how weight affects flying objects. They fit into the Nova Scotia Grade 6 Science Curriculum by exploring the outcome: Learners will evaluate factors that influence flight.
1) Activity: Weighted Planes. An activity created by me to address how weight affects the flight distance of paper planes.
activity_-_weighted_planes.docx | |
File Size: | 27 kb |
File Type: | docx |
2) Website: Why aren't birds pulled down by gravity while they're flying?
theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-arent-birds-pulled-down-by-gravity-while-theyre-flying-91006
3) Gravity Experiments: Free Fall. Try some experiments to see how gravity works!
howthingsfly.si.edu/sites/default/files/attachment/FreeFall.pdf
theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-arent-birds-pulled-down-by-gravity-while-theyre-flying-91006
3) Gravity Experiments: Free Fall. Try some experiments to see how gravity works!
howthingsfly.si.edu/sites/default/files/attachment/FreeFall.pdf
4) Paper Airplane Challenge. Build a paper airplane that can carry a cargo and travel at least 10 feet!
kidsactivitiesblog.com/77853/stem-paper-airplane-challenge/