Flight Research Webquest
Name: _______________________________
Date: ________________
Go to Student Server: Zinszer 2014 Assignments and click on the Flight Webquest link. Click
on the links at the beginning of each section to find your information.
http://howthingsfly.si.edu/forces-flight/four-forces
What are the four forces acting on a airplane? Identify each force and indicate the source of this
force and the direction of the force.
1. __________________________
Direction of the force is __________________________
Force is caused by ________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________
Direction of the force is __________________________
Force is caused by ________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________
Direction of the force is __________________________
Force is caused by ________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________
Direction of the force is __________________________
Force is caused by ________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5. Draw the forces on the plane with the name and direction.
Answer these questions about how these 4 forces interact as a plane is flying.
7. What other force must be increased if we increase the weight? ________________________
8. Larger wings increase the drag. What other force needs to be increased? ________________
How does the design of the plane affect how the plane flies?
http://howthingsfly.si.edu/activities/forces-flight
Click on the link to “Design your own plane” then click on the link to “Make your plane faster”
then click on the “lift”.
How is LIFT affected by the design of the wing of a plane? Draw the wing and describe the
wing’s affect on the LIFT.
9. Bleirot
This wing creates less lift than the DC – 3
Eventually thinner air reduces the lift of the plane
Wing has less drag than the DC – 3 so it’s speed increases until all 4
forces are in balance.
Top speed with Bleriot Wing is 100 km/hr
10. DC – 3
11. F-86
12. X-15
How is DRAG affected by the design of the FUSELAGE of a plane? Draw the plane’s body and
and describe how the FUSELAGE affects DRAG on the plane?
13. Bleriot
14. Spitfire
15. X-15
How is THRUST affected by the design of the ENGINE of a plane? Draw the plane’s engine
and describe how the ENGINE affects THRUST on the plane?
16. Piston
17. Jet
18. Rocket
How does a Boeing 737 fly
1) How does an airfoil work? Boeing Airfoils
2) Draw a wing and how air moves over that wing. Principles of Flight
3) What does Bernoulli's Principle state? Bernoulli's Principle
5) Why is air considered a fluid? Fluid Air
6) Why is a jet engine called a "air breathing engine"? Air Breathing Engines
Part 2 Use the following link to answer Questions 7 - 13
NASA Airplane Parts
7. The ____________are control surfaces located at the back of the wings. When they are moved
in opposite directions, they control turns and rolling maneuvers of the airplane. (roll)
8. The _______________ are control surfaces attached to the tail to control the up and down
movement of the airplane. (pitch)
9. The __________ are moveable airfoils on the edge of the wings that are used to increase lift at
slower speeds.
10. The _________________ is an airfoil located at the front of or on the wings of a plane.
Propellers are powered by an engine and create thrust.
11. The _____________ is attached to the tail’s fin and allows the pilot to control the right and
left motion of the airplane. (yaw)
12. The _______________ are airfoils attached to the fuselage that lets the airplane create lift.
13. The ______________ is the body of the airplane.
Part 3
14. Who was the first man to "fly" the first powered, controlled, hesavier than air plane? Flight
15. In what town did Orville and Wilbur Wright first take flight? Powered Flight
16. What happened in 1908-1909 that gained Orville and Wilbur Wright international attention?
Powered Flight
17. What was the name of the first experimental aircraft to reach speeds greater than Mach 1?
Experimental Aircraft
18. How fast is Mach 1 at sea level? Aeronautics Vocab