LessonGrades 5 - 7
May the Force Be with You: Weight
Forces acting on an aircraft.
Students study the properties of common materials and why airplanes use specific materials. This lesson helps students understand the relationship between the mass and the weight of an object.
One of the most important aspects of aircraft design that engineers must take into consideration is weight. Every additional part or piece added to an airplane adds weight that makes it harder for the airplane to overcome the force of gravity to fly. So, when engineers design airplanes, they minimize the weight in their choices of parts and materials, while still assuring strength and safety.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain the difference between weight and mass.
- State that weight is one of the four main forces acting on airplanes.
- Explain why larger airplanes are a challenge for engineers to design.
- Explain that physical properties that are important to material selection in airplanes.
- Explain that engineers can design new materials to fit their needs.