Aerodynamics

Learn about the study of gases in motion called aerodynamics. Find out how this science applies to airplanes, parachutes, cars, bridges, buildings, living things, kites, and more. Learn Bernoulli’s principle, laws of aerodynamics, and basics of forces of gravity, lift, drag, and thrust. Get acquainted with shock waves, propulsion, and other forces. There are links to eThemes Resources on related topics of gravity, aviation and aircrafts, parachutes, and water-bottle rockets.

Grades

Links

Aerodynamics: The Study of Flight: This fourth-grade student project explores principles of aerodynamics and what makes planes fly.
Fact Monster: Aerodynamics: Here is a brief introduction to aerodynamics, basic forces, sound and thermal barriers. NOTE: The site includes pop-up and banner ads.
Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics: This page has summative information on aerodynamics. Click on the highlighted words for more explanations and online simulations.
Forces of Flight: Explore the four main forces involved in aerodynamics: gravity, lift, drag, and thrust. Each page includes links to related activities at the bottom.
Flights of Inspiration: The First Flight: The Wind Tunnel: Here is a 3D replica of the first wind tunnel. Scroll down the page and click on the link “Parts of a Wind Tunnel” to access interactive pages with animations. Then select the “Make a Simple Wind Tunnel” link to learn how to build your own wind tunnel.
Aerodynamics: Animal Flight Group: Read about conventional aerodynamics and compare it to an insects’ aerodynamics.
Bernoulli's Principle Animation: Learn about Bernoulli’s principle and use an interactive animation to change settings and watch what happens.
Paperplane Flying Circus: During this activity involving a paper plane, kids learn about and discuss gravity, drag, lift, and thrust.
Helicopter Aviation: Learn about the aerodynamics of a helicopter. The site is illustrated with drawings.
NASA: EngineSim and RangeGames Download: This page has two learning simulation games to download for older students.
PBS: Flight: This page can be used by teachers and parents alike and has information about the history of flight, along with related links within the PBS site.
NASM: How Things Fly: This site explores the forces of gravity, air, balloons, animal flight, airplanes, and spacecraft. NOTE: Some of the links on the online resource center are broken.
Scholastic: Paper Airplane Contest: Learn how to properly fold a paper airplane and host a paper airplane contest at your school. Additional resources about this topic are listed. NOTE: Some links on the site are broken.
NASA: Aerodynamics: Kites: This site describes different types of kites, a brief history, and aerodynamic forces that make kites fly. The kite index includes a variety of related kite websites, as well as other related topics.
Make Your Own Science Toys: Three aerodynamic toys can be made from the in-depth directions on this site: a Bernoulli levitation ball, a homemade vacuum pump, and a classic propellor toy. NOTE: Site contains ads by Google.
First Flight: Learn how aerodynamics occur. Includes a time line of the history of flight and provides a brief history of early pioneers of flight. Additionally, three flight simulators are useful in experiencing how to fly a plane. NOTE: These simulations require Shockwave to run properly.
Quiz: How Air Moves Over Objects: This nine-question intermediate quiz allows students to test their understanding of aerodynamics. The textbook link at the top of the page guides the student through basic reminders and the activity index link provides a listing of other quizzes on a variety of topics and subjects.
Forces of Flight: The science of flight is outlined via the topics of lift, thrust, weight, and drag. Includes helpful graphics to illustrate each topic.
Frisbee: This lesson plan demonstrates the aerodynamics of a frisbee.
Boomerang: Similar to the frisbee activity above, this outdoor lesson takes the principles of boomerang aerodynamics and puts it into practice.
How Things Fly: Bernoulli Brain-Teasers: These Bernoulli brain teasers could be done at home or in the classroom and can be made from simple household items. The site also has brief biographical information on Bernoulli and includes both simple and complex explanations for how things fly.
eThemes Resource: Physics: Gravity: These sites explain how the earth’s gravity works. Includes photos, simulations, videos, hands-on activities, and online quizzes.
eThemes Resource: Aviation: Activities for Junior and High School Students: These sites have classroom activity ideas and unit plans about aviation. Learn how aircraft fly and try to solve word problems and other mathematical equations relating to aviation. Download a flight simulator to navigate your own aircraft. Includes a link to an eTheme on Aviation: Military Aircraft.
eThemes Resource: Transportation: Aircraft: These sites are about the history of aviation. Includes photographs of different types of aircraft, principles and concepts of flight and plane construction, women in aviation, and how to construct paper airplanes. An eThemes Resource on the Wright Brothers is linked.
eThemes Resource: Parachutes: Discover how a parachute works. Find out who was the first man to envision and sketch the first parachute. Learn about air resistance or drag force, drop time, and terminal velocity. The following online simulations and lesson plans are designed for physics and mathematics classes.
eThemes Resource: Physics: Water-Bottle Rockets: The following sites can help students understand how physics laws create motion and propel rockets. Learn about rocketry and how to build water-bottle rockets. These sites include lesson plans, activities, rocket launchers simulators, photographs, animations, and video.
eThemes Resource: Kites: Learn how kites overcome gravity to fly. There are several lesson plans that use kites to introduce math and science concepts. Includes many instructions for making your own kite out of everyday materials. There is information about the history of kites and pictures of kites from different countries. Also learn why April is National Kite Month. Includes links to eThemes Resources on hot air balloons and basic weather concepts.