Download Air and Aerodynamics/Flight Units

Air and Aerodynamics/Flight Units
Study Guide
Vocabulary to know:
Air pressure
The application of force by air; the amount of force air exerts on an object.
Air foil
An object whose curved shape is designed to provide maximum lift when in
motion through the air.
Compressed
Pushed or squeezed into a smaller space.
Expand
Increase in size.
Fluid
Matter that flows: liquids and gases
Gas
A form of matter that has no definite shape of its own but tends to expand
indefinitely
Gravity
The attraction between large objects in space; the force that pulls objects
towards Earth’s surface.
Hypothesis
A prediction that needs to be tested to tell if it is correct
Lift
The upward force that enables objects to fly
Molecule
The absolute tiniest part of something that can still be called by that name.
Principle
A basic law about the way things work
Vacuum
An area where there is no air pressure
Velocity
The speed of an object in a certain direction.
Air resistance
The amount of air that pushes against an object
Air flow
The direction in which air moves past an object
Accelerate
Speed up
Decelerate
Slow down
Aerodynamics
The study of air and how it moves around objects
Altitude
The height of an object above sea level
Buoyancy
If an object is less dense than an equal volume of fluid surrounding it, that
object will float.
Cockpit
The area of the airplane in which the pilot sits. The airplane is controlled
from the cockpit.
Drag
A force that opposes the force of thrust.
Equilibrium
When all forces are in balance
Fuselage
The body of an airplane
Pitch
Moving the nose of a plane up and down
Propulsion
Moving an object
Roll
Moving the wings up and down
Propeller
Moves the plane through the air
Ailerons
Flaps on the wings of a plane that move up and down. They control the roll
of the plane.
Elevators
Flaps of the tail of the plane that move together. They control the pitch of a
plane.
Rudder
Flap on the tail of a plane that turns the plane left or right. It controls the
yaw.
Yaw
When a plane turns left or right
Air – the air we breathe is made of different gases
Name of gas
Percentage
Nitrogen
78%
Oxygen
21%
Argon
1%
Carbon Dioxide
.04%
Neon
Trace
Helium
Trace
Krypton
Trace
Hydrogen
Trace
Xenon
Trace
How to prove:
1. Air takes up space
 Run a garbage bag through the air. It fills with air so therefore air takes up the
space in the bag.
 Put a cup upside down in water. The cup will not fill with water because air in
taking the space up in the cup. You must let the air out (by tipping the cup) in
order for water to fill up the space.
2. Air has volume
 You can measure the volume of air in a room. Take the measurements of the
room (length X width X height). This will equal the volume of the air in the
room.
3. Air has weight
 Tie two equal size balloons on the ends of a stick. Balance them. Pop one
balloon. The other balloon filled with air will fall towards the ground because it
has weight.
4. Air has mass
 Measure a balloon that is not blown up on a scale. Record its mass. Blow up the
balloon with air. Re-measure the balloon on the scale. The difference is the mass
of the air.
5. Air has pressure
 Air pressure increase the closer you are to sea level.
 Air pressure decreases the higher you are from sea level.
Bernoulli’s Principle – faster flowing fluids (gases and liquids) have lower pressure than
slower flowing fluids.
Forces in Flight
GRAVITY
Adaptations for flight






Birds
Have hollow bones that make
them lightweight but strong.
Have feathers
Have strong pectoral muscles
that allow them to flap their
wings
Wings shaped like an airfoil
Aerodynamic shape
Primary and secondary feathers
each have a role in flight.
Primaries allow the bird to
manoeuvre in the air. Secondary
feathers catch air.
Air flow over and under wing creating lift






Insects
Light weight and small
May have one or two sets of
wings
Have strong pectoral muscles
that allow them to move their
wings
Wings shaped like an airfoil
Aerodynamic shape
Wings are very thin with a
network of veins. Veins make
the wings very strong.