Suggested Time: 50 minutes

Grade Level: High School

NGSS Standards

Science and Engineering Practices

Lesson Overview

In this lesson students will be introduced to the idea behind using airfoil shapes to generate lift and the parameters that define an airfoil shape. Students will learn some of the terminologies related to flight and test the process using simple prototype of an airfoil shape. Students will use their data literacy skills to describe the effect of changing the angle of attack on the performance of the airfoil shape.

Vocabulary

Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Required Project Materials

Multimedia Resources

"The basics of Airfoils" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lb7nx3Jv20&t=37s
"What is an angle of attack?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0tCRq2JedY
"Airfoil dimensions"  https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/geom.html
"NASA Airfoil Simulator" https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/foil3.html

Optional Multimedia resources

"NACA Airfoil Series" https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/langley/100/naca-airfoils
"History of Airfoil Deign" https://www.century-of-flight.net/history-of-the-airfoil/

Before the lesson/Background information

Students should have gained a knowledge from the previous lesson about the forces of flight and parts of an airplane as well as other concepts like gravity and pressure.

Lesson Plan

Engage (Estimated time: 5 minutes) 

Explore (Estimated time: 20 minutes)