Objective:
Campers will build a glider and learn how to change flight characteristics
of a glider so that it is clear how rib technology from NASA aids movement
through fluids.
Materials:
foam tray
tape
paper clips and binder clips
ball point pen
plastic knife or scissors
toothpicks
goggles
emery boards or sandpaper
log sheet
protractor
silhouettes poster
copy log sheet
enlarge silhouette and laminate sheet to make poster
copy templates
Procedure:
- Distribute plastic foam trays and copies of each X-glider template.
(Refer campers to the poster showing the silhouettes of the different style
gliders. Campers should choose a design for their glider.)
- Go over the parts of the glider. Have the campers label each part as
you describe what is it and what it does (see tip below).
- Tape the glider to the tray and trace them with pencil. Carefully cut a
slot (lengthwise) in the center of the fuselage.
- Cut out airplane parts using the templates.
- If there are rough edges, smooth them with an emery board.
- Slide the parts into the fuselage to finish the glider.
- Campers should now attach a paper clip or binder clip to the fuselage.
Fly the glider with the clip in different positions to determine which will
allow for the longest flight of your glider.
- Have campers move wings, stabilizers, and canards to different
positions to determine the best settings for a long flight. Record flight
distances for each modification on the log sheet.
- Discuss how ribs improve motion through a fluid. Add grooves to the
upper side of the wings using a toothpick (and a protractor for a straight
edge). These are the ribs.
- Fly the glider, record its distance on the log sheet, and compare its
flight distance to those done without ribs.
Discuss how adding ribs is applied to improving swimsuits and wing design.
For younger campers, label glider parts in advance. Decorate gliders and
hold a contest. Give a prize for the longest flight and the most elaborate
decorations.
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