Forces and Motion
A push or pull that can change an object’s motion or shape is called this.
Force
What is mass?
The amount of matter in an object.
Explanation: Mass doesn’t change no matter where you are—it’s how much “stuff” is inside something.
What is aerodynamics?
The study of how air moves around objects.
Explanation: Air pushes on objects, and how it moves affects things like speed, lift, and drag.
Name the four forces acting on a plane.
Answer: Lift, weight, thrust, drag.
Explanation: These are the forces that push the plane up, down, forward, or slow it down.
When thrust is stronger than drag, what happens to the plane?
Answer: It moves forward.
Explanation: Forward push is stronger than backward resistance, so the plane accelerates
A force can change an object in three ways. Name them
Speed, direction, or shape.
What is gravity?
A force that pulls objects toward each other.
Explanation: On Earth, gravity pulls things down toward the center of the earth.
Why is aerodynamics important for flight?
It affects the lift and drag.
Answer may vary
Self check:
Was my answered detailed? yes/no
Did I uses flight related terminology or concepts?
What force helps the plane rise into the air?
Answer: Lift.
Explanation: Air pressure is higher under the wing and lower on top, pushing the plane upward.
What has to happen for a plane to take off?
Answer: Thrust + Lift must be greater than Drag + Gravity.
Explanation: The plane lifts off when the upward and forward forces are stronger than the downward and backward forces.
Matching:
Situation: A) If you push a door B) gravity pulls a ball C) stretch a rubber band
What Changes: 1) speed, 2) direction, or 3) shape
Door → direction A-2
Gravity → speed B-1
Rubber band → shape C-3
What is weight?
The force of gravity acting on mass.
Explanation: Weight is made up of mass and gravity acting on the object
Name one example of how aerodynamics affects real planes.
Wing shape.
Explanation: Curved wings create lift by making air move faster on top than underneath
Note: more than one answer for this
- Was the answer detailed, use flight terminology and relevant to question?
What creates lift on an airplane wing?
Answer: The shape of the wing and how air moves over it.
Explanation: The top of the wing is curved, so air moves faster over it, creating lower pressure. Underneath, air moves slower, creating higher pressure that pushes the wing up.
How do engines and propellers help a plane fly? Think about Forces.
Answer: They create thrust by pushing air backward.
Explanation: This forward push makes air flow over the wings faster, which increases lift.
The two main types of forces are __ and __.
Contact and non-contact forces.
Explanation:
Contact forces need objects to touch.
Non-contact forces, like gravity, work from a distance.
If you go to the Moon, your mass stays the same, but your weight changes. Why?
Gravity on the Moon is weaker.
Explanation: Less gravity means it pulls less on your mass, so you weigh less.
What does a pointy nose on an airplane help reduce?
Answer: Drag.
Explanation: A smooth shape lets air flow more easily, so the plane moves faster. Less surface area. More surface area created more drag (remember the paper experiment)
How can pilots increase lift during flight?
Answer: By increasing thrust (speed) or adjusting the wing shape
Explanation: More speed makes air move faster over the wing, and curved top of the wing up can creates more lift.
What happens if drag becomes stronger than thrust?
Answer: The plane slows down.
Explanation: When air pushes back harder than the engines push forward, the plane can’t keep its speed.
Kicking a soccer ball is what kind of force?
Contact
You have to physically touch the ball to change its motion.
How are mass, gravity, and weight connected?
Mass and Gravity together = Weight.
Explanation: Weight is created when gravity pulls on an object’s mass.
Why does air moving faster on top of a wing create lift?
Answer: Faster air = lower pressure.
Explanation: High pressure under the wing pushes up toward the low pressure on top
Why does air moving faster on top of a wing create lift?
Answer: Faster air = lower pressure.
Explanation: High pressure under the wing pushes up toward the low pressure on top, lifting the plane.
How are the four forces balanced in level flight?
Answer: Thrust = Drag and Lift = Weight.
Explanation: When forces are balanced, the plane flies straight without going up or down.