Forces of Flight
Grade 7•45 minutes
Learning Objective
I can explain how lift, weight, thrust, and drag affect an airplane's speed and direction. Examine the four forces of flight: weight, lift, drag, and thrust.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 7 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. Define the four forces of flight (lift, weight, thrust, and drag) in your own words.
2. Explain how the shape of an airplane wing (airfoil) helps to generate lift. Use the concept of air pressure in your explanation.
3. Describe a situation where increasing drag on an airplane would be beneficial. Explain why.
...and 4 more questions
Educational Video
The Four Forces of Flight (How Things Fly Demonstration)
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum