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Four Forces of Flight

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A joint NASA/Boeing team completed the first phase of flight tests on March 19, 2010.

Audience

Students

Grade Levels

Grades K-4, Grades 5-8

Subject

Physical Science, Flight and Aeronautics

Type

Hands-on Activities

Use items you have at home: balloons, balls, a fan and a stopwatch to act out or understand the forces that act on an airplane. Four forces affect an airplane while it is flying: weight, thrust, drag and lift. See how they work when you do these activities as demonstrations.

Four Forces of Flight

These activities are adapted from the “Four Forces (K-4)” and “Four Forces (5-8)” educator guides.