Properties of Air
Name one property of air.
Air has mass / takes up space / exerts pressure / has temperature / can be compressed / is affected by altitude
What are the four forces of flight?
Lift, thrust, drag, weight
What shape of wing helps create lift?
Curved airfoil / wing shape
What part of the plane holds all the pieces together?
Fuselage
Name one animal that can fly.
Bird, bat, insect, hummingbird
Which property of air allows a balloon to inflate?
Air takes up space
Which force pulls objects toward Earth?
Weight
What happens to air pressure when air moves faster?
It decreases
What part of the plane allows takeoff and landing?
Landing gear
Which mammal can truly fly?
Bat
Which property of air causes your ears to “pop” in an airplane?
Air exerts pressure
Which force moves an airplane forward?
Thrust
Why is air pressure higher under a wing?
Air moves slower under the wing
What part of the plane provides stability and direction?
Empennage (tail)
What structure helps flying squirrels glide?
Patagium
Why is it harder to breathe on Mount Everest?
Air pressure is lower, so there is less oxygen
Which two forces oppose each other when a plane is cruising?
Lift & weight OR thrust & drag
Explain how lift is created using Bernoulli’s Principle.
Faster air above → lower pressure → air below pushes up
Why do small planes use propellers instead of jet engines?
Jet engines are too heavy; propellers generate thrust efficiently
Why can hummingbirds hover?
They move wings forward and backward to create lift both ways
Explain how air temperature helps a hot air balloon rise.
Heated air spreads out, becomes less dense, and rises above cooler air
What happens when thrust becomes less than drag?
The plane slows down or stops moving forward
Why does increasing a plane’s weight require more lift?
Heavier planes need more upward force to stay airborne
How does a pilot use pitch, roll, and yaw to land a plane?
Roll to level wings, yaw to line up, pitch to descend
Which force mainly allows dandelion seeds to stay in the air?
Lift