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Determining the Altitude of Iridium Flares
Students examine what iridium flares are and when they occur. For this iridium flare lesson students complete an activity to see how far overhead Iridium satellites are.
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Determining Center of Gravity
Students complete calculations involving the structure and properties of matter. They engage in a variety of problem solving activities to help them determine the center of gravity.
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Sand or Rock? Finding Out From 1,000 km
Students observe how measurements are made with different instruments. In this remote sensing lesson students investigate the physical state of surfaces including the surfaces of the solar system.
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Volcanic Clouds and the Atmosphere
Students examine how scientists monitor volcanoes. In this volcano activity students complete several activities including why we see things when using satellites.
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DEW POINT
Fourth graders investigate conditions causing saturation and measure the dew point of the atmosphere performing simple experiments.
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Energy Problem Set
Students calculate the potential energy of a glider, the kinetic energy of a moving glider and the change in velocity when potential energy changes to kinetic energy.
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Turbojet Thrust
Students, after reading the Web page Turbojet Thrust and completing the activity, explain how jet engines use air to produce thrust. The educational software ""FoilSim" is used in this lesson plan to help students calculate thrust.
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Weightlessness
Students use a coffee cup to demonstrate weightlessness. After a lecture/demo, students read an article on free-fall. They perform a simple experiment which helps them explain the concept of weightlessness.
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Now You See It, Now You Don't
High schoolers determine their eye's blind spot. In this biology instructional activity, students explain what causes this visual deficiency. They give real life applications of this concept.
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The Sky and the Dichotomous Key
Students use a dichotomous key to distinguish between different types of clouds
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Fronts
Fourth graders define cold and warm fronts, explain how they are formed and they ways that they affect the weather.
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Thunderstorms
Fourth graders investigate the attraction between two different charges to explain the concept of lightning in a thunderstorm.
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Dew Point
Fourth graders investigate saturation conditions and measure the dew point. They conduct an experiment, record data on a worksheet, and measure the dew point in the experiment.
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Weather Predictions
Students play the role of weather personalities by making five day forecasts based on data gathered from observations, weather instruments, and weather maps. Each day a small group makes a class forecast for the next day and reviews the...
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Cold Fronts And Warm Fronts
Students simulate the movement of cold and warm fronts as they listen to a story about the weather and Mr. Sun. They brainstorm the characteristics of each type of front then write about which front they would prefer if they were a...
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Model Rockets
Students study the basics of a model rocket and its classifications. In this rocket lesson plan students determine the flight duration of a model rocket.
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Mach Number Problem Set
Students read a textbook about aerodynamics. They find out the definition of Mach number. They complete problems designed to demonstrate their ability to solve Mach number equations.
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Why Invent That?
Students demonstrate an understanding of the text by completing an activity on the advantages and disadvantages of inventing and using a human-powered airplane.
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Equation of State Problem Set
Students demonstrate their understanding of the equation of state by computing the gas constant from air properties. They use online research tools and apply integrated math problem-solving strategies to solve problems outside the realm...
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Density
Students, in groups, design a procedure to calculate the mass of gas molecules in the classroom by measuring the volume of the classroom and researching the density of air. They apply changes in air density with altitude and effects on a...
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Propulsion Pop!
Students demonstrate an understanding of the text by completing a propulsion activity, charting the results, and answering questions that demonstrate an understanding of rocket propulsion.
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Fuel and Air Relationships
Students use EngineSim and information found on the World Wide Web to complete the activity on the relationship between the atmosphere and jet fuel. They discover how much air is required to pass through a jet engine.
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Temperature and Altitude
Students, after reading the explanation given below, use FoilSim to gather and record data on temperature and altitude generated by the FoilSim control panel.
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Airplane flight
Students learn the basic concepts about airplane flight. They learn the reason jetliner wings are swept back and why jet engines have replaced propellers in high-speed flight.