Flight Competition

In our flight unit we have been learning about many concepts such as what makes a plane aerodynamic, how is it affected by drag, and what happens to flight when we adjust controls such as elevators and ailerons. 

So today we held a flight competition to use our knowledge in developing paper airplanes for each of 3 categories. The Distance competition tests our knowledge of aerodynamics, the Air Time competition tests our ability to create drag while maintaining lift, and the Acrobatics competition tests our ability to make a plane do tricks by using flight controls. 

Here are our winners!  Can you see the difference in airplane design?  Do you know which planes won which competition?

What a Drag!

As we come to the end of our flight unit we find ourselves experimenting with the effect of drag on paper airplanes (it slows them down so they don't travel as far) and parachutes (they will have a slower descent).