NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Unit: Engineering -- Aeronautics

  Grade Levels: 7-9

  Connection To Curriculum:
  Technology Research Tools, and
  Science and Technology in Society

  Teacher Prep Time: 1 hour

  Lesson Time Needed: 1.25 hours

  Complexity: Moderate

  Keywords: X-planes, gliders,
  flight testing, models

Materials:

Teacher Materials
Download the X-Plane Generation activity guide and video from: Utah State University's Teacherlink
url: http://teacherlink.ed.usu/tinasa
username: nasamovies
password: aesp
Select: NASA Video & Multimedia
NASA Connect Series 1999-2000 Season; Proportionality: The X-Plane Generation

Download Designing the 21st Century Aerospace Vehicle bookmark from: Utah State University's Teacherlink
url: http://teacherlink.ed.usu/tinasa
username: nasamovies
password: aesp
Select: Other NASA Print Resources
Select: NASA Bookmarks and Trading Cards

Student Materials (per three-student group)
X–33 template copied on heavy weight paper; plain 8- by 11-inch paper; 1 piece of copy paper needed for Ring Wing Glider student
Metric rulers
Hobby glue and masking tape (to hold folds while drying)
Scissors

Description
This lesson uses the online NASA CONNECT™: Proportionality: The X-Plane Generation Educator Guide and the NASA aeronautics bookmark: Designing the 21st Century Aerospace Vehicle and Ring Wing Glider activity to help students learn how small-scale models developed with simple materials can result in new aircraft and future space launch vehicles.

Objectives
Students will:
• Discuss what makes a model a "scale model" and how engineers use models in research, design, development and testing.
• Construct a scale model aircraft using an approved pattern and discuss its advantages to full-scale testing.
• Use measurement tools to determine the linear dimensions of the model.
• Construct and fly a small, simple-scale model and determine how it could be controlled.

Lesson Guide Getting the Drop on Flight With the X Planes Lesson [80KB PDF file]

Professional Development Training Module for This Lesson

› Launch X-Planes training module  → Note: Module may take a few minutes to load. Download Video

› Help me! I can't access the training module.

Lesson Activities and Sequence

1. Constructing the X–33
   Students create a paper model of the proposed X–33. Measurements of each surface and comparisons to the full-scale versions introduce students to scale model concepts.
   Download the X-Plane Generation activity guide and video from Utah State University's "Teacherlink".
   url: http://teacherlink.ed.usu/tinasa
   username: nasamovies
   password: aesp
   Select: NASA Video & Multimedia
   NASA Connect Series 1999-2000 Season; Proportionality: The X-Plane Generation
   Keywords: X-planes, glider, model


2. Constructing and testing the Ring Wing Glider
   Students create a paper model of the Ring Wing flying model. They test fly this vehicle and determine how they might be able to add control surfaces to adjust the flight pattern of this model.
   Download the Designing the 21st Century Aerospace Vehicle bookmark from Utah State University’s "Teacherlink".
   url: http://teacherlink.ed.usu/tinasa
   username: nasamovies
   password: aesp
   Select: Other NASA Print Resources
   Select: NASA Bookmarks and Trading Cards
   Keywords: ring wing, glider, model, testing

National Standards: