Design for Flight

Design something that moves safely through the air. Pick your path: a glider that flies far and straight, or a lander that protects a small object when it falls and hits the ground. Either way, air and gravity are working against you.

Anything that flies or falls is fighting the same two forces your design does: gravity pulling it down, and air pushing against it. Aerospace engineers shape their designs to control both.

• Airplanes
• |Parachutes
• |Helicopters
• |Spacecraft
• |Drones

Aerospace engineering

Designing things that move through the air and space, like planes, drones, parachutes, and spacecraft.

Weight

The pull of gravity. Weight pulls every object down toward the ground.

Drag

The way air pushes back on a moving object and slows it down.

Balance

How the weight is spread out. Balance decides whether a design flies steady or tips and spins.

Small changes

One small change - a fold, a paper clip, a bit of cushioning - can change how something flies or falls.

• Paper
• Index cards
• Straws
• Tape
• String
• Coffee filters
• Cups
• Cotton balls
• Rubber bands
• A plastic egg, ping pong ball, or small toy to protect

Engineers plan before they build. Work through these before you pick up any tape.

1. 1Draw your idea before you build it. A rough sketch is fine.
2. 2Label the strongest part of your design, and the part you are least sure about.
3. 3Predict what might fail first when you test it.
4. 4Decide which material goes where, and why that material fits that job.

These are guides, not rules. Two students can follow them and build very different designs - that is the point.

1. 1

   Pick your path: a glider that flies far and straight, or a lander that protects a small object when it drops.

2. 2

   Glider: fold or cut a wing shape and start light. You can add a paper clip later to change the balance.

3. 3

   Lander: build a cup or box to hold the object, then add cushioning, legs, or a parachute to soften the landing.

4. 4

   Keep your first version simple so you can see what one change does.

5. 5

   Set up a fair test before building too far: same launch spot for gliders, same drop height for landers.

A design is only finished when it passes a fair test. Run each test the same way every time.

• Glider - distance

  Launch the same way three times and measure how far it travels each time.

  Measure: Farthest distance in centimeters

• Glider - accuracy

  Aim at a target on the floor and launch five times the same way.

  Measure: How many of five landings are near the target

• Glider - stability

  Watch how the glider moves through the air.

  Measure: Straight, curved, or nose-dive

• Lander - protect the object

  Drop the lander from a set height and check the object after each drop.

  Measure: Did the object survive undamaged? (yes / no)

• Lander - compare designs

  Test two different landing designs from the same height.

  Measure: Which design protects the object better

Write down what happens each time you test. Your numbers tell you what to improve. Print this page or copy the table into your notebook.

Your first version is a prototype, not the final answer. Change one thing based on what failed, then test again.

• If a glider dived, move a little weight (a paper clip) toward the back, or bend the tail flaps up.
• If a glider curved or spun, check that both wings match and the nose is straight.
• If a lander's object got damaged, add more cushioning or slow the fall with a coffee-filter parachute.
• If a lander tipped over, widen its base or move its weight lower.
• Change one thing at a time so you know which change actually helped.

1. 1Did heavier designs fly better or worse?
2. 2What happened when the design was unbalanced?
3. 3What slowed the fall?
4. 4What made the landing safer?
5. 5What did you change after testing?

• Get your glider to turn in a wide circle instead of flying straight.
• Make a lander that protects two coins instead of one from the same drop.
• Find the lightest lander that still keeps the payload safe.

Running this lesson? The parent & teacher guide has setup, materials prep, safety notes, common failure points, and questions to ask.