Forces of Flight
Name the 4 forces of flight.
Lift, Gravity, Thrust, Drag
When you shoot a bow and arrow, which force pulls the arrow back down to the ground?
Gravity
What force pushes up on objects in water?
Buoyant Force
If something is less dense than water, will it sink or float?
Float
If lift is greater than gravity, what happens to a plane?
It rises
Which force pulls an airplane toward Earth?
Gravity
When you release a slingshot, what happens to the stored energy, and which force of flight does it act like?
It changes into kinetic energy and acts like thrust.
If an object floats, what must be true about buoyant force and gravity?
Buoyant force is equal to or greater than gravity.
If something is more dense than water, will it sink or float?
Sink
If drag becomes greater than thrust, what happens?
The plane slows down.
Which force pushes an airplane forward?
Thrust
As an arrow or spear moves through the air, which force slows it down?
Drag
Why can a heavy ship float?
It displaces enough water to create enough buoyant force
What happens to density if you add salt to water?
Density increases - making things float more easily.
If you add cargo to a boat, what must increase for it to stay afloat?
Displacement - more water pushed aside.
Which force opposes motion and slows an airplane down?
Drag
Why are arrows long, narrow, and pointed? How does this relate to forces of flight?
Their shape reduces drag, allowing them to travel farther — similar to how airplanes are designed.
What does “displacement” mean?
The amount of water pushed aside by an object
Why do people float more easily in salt water than fresh water?
Salt water is more dense.
Why do airplanes have flaps on their wings?
To increase lift during takeoff and landing.
For a plane to fly at a steady height and speed, how must the four forces be balanced?
Lift=Gravity and Thrust=Drag
Compare how a bow and arrow and an airplane both rely on balanced and unbalanced forces.
Both must overcome gravity
Both experience drag
Both need a forward force (thrust or stored energy release)
Why does a ball of clay sink but the same clay shaped like a boat float?
The boat shape displaces more water and spreads out mass
A submarine sinks and rises. How does it change its density?
By filling or emptying ballast tanks with water/air.
Compare how lift and buoyancy are similar.
Both are upward forces that oppose gravity.