Educator Guide: Observing Air and
Flight
This document is a resource for teachers whose classes are participating in the Museum of Science’s Observing Air and Flight Traveling Program. The information in this document may be used as a classroom resource and/or as background information for the teacher concerning the subjects covered in the assembly. Table of Contents
Vocabulary List…………………………………………………………………………2 Further Background Reading………………………………………………………...5 Suggested Classroom Materials……………………………………………………...6 Activity Descriptions…………………………………………………………………...7 1
Vocabulary List
This is a list of terms that may be discussed during the presentation. It is not required for students to have learned these terms prior to the presentation, but it may help with their understanding of the concepts if they are familiar with them. Air – a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and minute amounts of other gases that surrounds the earth and forms its atmosphere
Airplane – any aircraft that is heavier than air, but kept aloft by the upward push of air passing around the wings. This air is driven by an outside force such as propellers or jet propulsion.
Balance – a state of equilibrium, or being the same on both sides
Blimp – a small airship used mostly for observation that is kept aloft by a gas that is lighter than air, usually Helium
Carbon Dioxide – a colorless, odorless, non flammable substance that is naturally a gas on Earth. Carbon Dioxide is formed during respiration and during many chemical reactions or when certain materials are burned, but it is only present in very small amounts in our atmosphere because most of it is absorbed by plants. Carbon Dioxide is heavier than air of the same volume.
Density – how much mass an object has in a given amount of volume. An object is more dense if it has more mass in the same amount of space or the same mass in a smaller amount of space.
Flight – the act, manner or power of flying
Force – a push or pull on an object or system that produces or tends to produce a change in movement or in shape
Friction – surface resistance to motion caused by the rubbing of one object against another
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Gas – the state of matter where a substance’s molecules can move freely, and will spread out to fill any space they occupy. A gas’s size and shape can both change, and it can be compressed.
Helium – the second most common substance in the universe. On Earth, Helium is an inert gas (does not react chemically with other substances) and only present in very small amounts in our atmosphere. It is mostly found in natural gas on the Earth, and is lighter than air.
Hot-Air Balloon – a balloon for travel through the air in a basket suspended below a large bag of heated air
Hovercraft – a craft capable of moving over water or land on a cushion of air created by its own engines
Lift – the upward force on an airplane that works against gravity
Liquid – the state of matter where a substance flows readily, but does not disperse and is not compressible. A liquid stays the same volume or size, but changes shape. Matter – anything that has mass and takes up space. On a planet, matter has weight. Mass – mass causes matter, or stuff to have weight. The more mass something has, the more it will weigh when measured at the same location.
Molecule – the simplest structural unit of a substance. Nitrogen – a colorless odorless and inert (non‐reactive) substance that is normally a gas on Earth. Nitrogen makes up about 78% of our atmosphere by volume. Observe – to collect information using your senses or other tools.
Oxygen – a substance that is naturally a colorless, odorless gas on the Earth. It is non‐flammable, but most types of combustion require its presence as part of the reaction. Oxygen makes up about 21% of Earth’s atmosphere by volume, and is used in respiration by animals.
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Prediction – a guess about what will happen in the future based on information you already know
Pressure – a force applied to a surface
Senses – the way that we perceive the outside world: sight, sound, taste, smell and touch
Solid – the State of Matter where a substances molecules are fixed in their position. A solid usually maintains the same shape and size and is not compressible. Elastic solids can change shape temporarily if a force is exerted on them, but will revert back to their original shape when the force is removed.
Thrust – a pushing force Vacuum – a place without matter, completely empty of everything, including air Volume – the amount of space something takes up 4
Further Background Reading
This is a suggested reading list for teachers looking to improve their understanding of air pressure and flight. Links
How Airplanes work –
http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airplane.htm
How Hot Air Balloons Work –
http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/hot-air-balloon.htm
How Blimps Work –
http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/blimp.htm
How Hoverboards Work –
http://science.howstuffworks.com/hoverboard.htm
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Classroom Materials
Below are some books, videos and websites related to the topic of air. Many describe activities for students that will help them better understand the air and air pressure, and how those can be used for flight. Books
The Science Book of Air: The Harcourt Brace Science Series by Neil Ardley.
Harcourt Brace - Books. 1991.
Lets Try it Out in the Air: Hands-On Early-Learning Science Activities by
Seymour Simon and Nicole Fauteux, illustrated by Doug Cushman. Cahners
Business Information, Inc. 2002.
Videos
Bill Nye the Science Guy: Atmosphere Classroom Edition (Interactive DVD).
1995
Links
How Stuff Works, Science Projects for Kids: Air Pressure –
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/science-projects-for-kids-air-pressure.htm
Science Kids website: Lesson Plans for Flight and Air –
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/flight.html
About.com weather section, “Show air has Volume” and “Show air has Mass”
lessons –
http://weather.about.com/od/lessonplanselementary/ht/air_volume.htm
http://weather.about.com/od/lessonplanselementary/ht/air_has_mass.htm
Teach-nology.com States of Matter Lesson plans about Air –
http://mypages.iit.edu/~smile/ch9302.html
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Activity Descriptions
See the “Documents” section on the website to download these activities. Bunny Copters
This activity allows students to create their own ‘copter’ out of paper which can be dropped from various heights to spiral to the ground slowly like a helicopter. The activity allows students to try out different configurations for their copter and try and figure out the best design. How Strong is Air
This activity helps students to realize that air takes up space, and has strength, and that that strength can be used to lift heavy objects. Students will use everyday objects and their breath to lift something as heavy as a child off the ground on a cushion of air. Make Your Own Toy Hovercraft
This activity may best be done as a demonstration by the teacher rather than as a group activity, but use your best judgment about what your students can do. The activity gives instructions about how to build a miniature hovercraft using a compact disk, a sports cap from a water bottle, and a latex balloon. 7