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TITLE OF VIDEO:
Understanding: Flight
VIDEO COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
1. What are the four principles behind the "secret" of flight?
2. Why must most airplanes have a limited angle of takeoff?
3. What type of flight is most similar to bird flight?
4. What is an afterburner and why is it used?
5. What are the control surfaces of an aircraft?
6. What is the "fly by wire" system used by fighter and commercial airline pilots?
7. Why is the F-117 "invisible" to radar?
8. Why must the Pathfinder aircraft be solar powered?
DiscoverySchool.com
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Copyright 2001 Discovery.com.
Teachers may reproduce copies of these materials for classroom use only. See next page for answers.
Understanding: Flight
VIDEO COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
1. What are the four principles behind the "secret" of flight?
The four principles behind the "secret" of flight are thrust, lift, weight and drag.
2. Why must most airplanes have a limited angle of takeoff?
Most airplanes must have an angle of takeoff that is limited to 10 degrees or less to ensure the
wings will get lift.
3. What type of flight is most similar to bird flight?
Soaring is the type of flight most similar to actual bird flight.
4. What is an afterburner and why is it used?
An afterburner is a pipe that is added to the back of a plane into which fuel can be dumped and
ignited, giving a fighter jet an extra boost of speed. Because they expend fuel at a much higher rate
than normal flight, afterburners are used sparingly, in such situations as takeoff from an aircraft
carrier and combat maneuvering.
5. What are the control surfaces of an aircraft?
Control surfaces are the movable part of the wings or tail that allow the pilot to deflect the passing
airflow and pivot the plane in the desired direction.
6. What is the "fly by wire" system used by fighter and commercial airline pilots?
The "fly by wire" system used by fighter and commercial airline pilots is a system that uses
computers to aid the pilot in getting the control surfaces to move to their utmost ability.
7. Why is the F-117 "invisible" to radar?
The F-117 is "invisible" to radar because its many angular flat surfaces deflect radar transmissions
away from the plane up into the air instead of diverting them back to the transmitter.
8. Why must the Pathfinder aircraft be solar powered?
The Pathfinder aircraft must be solar powered because its mission is to fly for long periods of time
in the stratosphere where the air is less dense and the quantities of fuel necessary to keep an aircraft
aloft are greater.
DiscoverySchool.com
http://www.discoveryschool.com
Copyright 2001 Discovery.com.
Teachers may reproduce copies of these materials for classroom use only.