Aeronauts Interactive Worksheet: Key Stage 3 - RAF Museum

AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET
AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE
KEY STAGE 3
FORCES AND MOTION
In order to control an aircraft the pilot needs to understand how changing different
forces will affect its motion.
When the aircraft is flying through the air it is subjected to a number of forces.
LIFT
DRAG
THRUST
WEIGHT
Fill in the blanks using the forces off the diagram:
____________ is generated by the engine and moves the aircraft forward.
____________ is caused by friction between the body of the aircraft
and the air it is often called Air Resistance. This can be affected by
the shape of the aircraft.
____________ is caused by the gravitational pull of the Earth acting
on the aircraft.
____________ acts in the opposite direction to weight in order to
allow the aircraft to stay in the air.
Write an
equation for
Weight (W)
involving
Mass (M) and
Gravitation
Pull (g).
W = ________
____________ is produced by the difference in air pressure resulting from a fast airflow
over the wing and a slower airflow under it.
The shape of the wing helps to produce ____________.
The Ping Pong Wing and the Lift Off Wing both demonstrate the force ‘Lift’, why not
take a look
AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET

AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET
When an aircraft is at rest (or travelling at constant velocity), the forces acting on it are
equal. We say that the forces are balanced.
We measure Force in Newtons (N)
If the forces become unbalanced a change in the motion of the aircraft will occur. For
example if there is an increase in drag (air resistance) then the aircraft will slow down.
Try the following question.
An aircraft has the following forces acting upon it:
Lift = 500N Drag = 1000N Weight = 500N Thrust = 2000N
What is the resultant force ………………………………
Hint:
How do we find the resultant force
First work out the Vertical resultant force: Lift – Weight.
Then work out the Horizontal resultant force: Thrust – Drag.
In which direction will the aircraft be travelling ………………………………
Find the exhibit Mass Attraction.
Gently lift the figures away from the surfaces of each planet.
Although the figures are the same size, the gravitational
force affecting them differs with the size of the planet.
Fill in the missing words to find the relationship between
gravitational pull and the size of the planet;
The ____________ the planet, the ____________ the pull.
Remember the equation Weight (W) = Mass (M) x Gravity (g)
Your Weight would be different on the Moon than on the Earth
Find out your Mass in Kilograms on Earth using the Balance Beam Exhibit.
Move the seat along the balance beam to find the point where you balance the engine.
Check the scale on the side of the beam to find your mass.
AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET

AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET
Find the exhibit titled Air is a Drag.
Make sure the paddles either side of the metal rod are horizontal.
Turn the rod clockwise using the wheel. Now change the position of the paddles (to
vertical) and turn once again. Notice how it feels different
Is it harder or easier to turn when the paddles are going against the air stream
………………………………
What is the term used to describe this force. A_ _ R_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
If the frontal area of an aircraft is large then air resistance or drag will be increased
because air resistance is proportional to surface area. The fastest aeroplanes are more
streamlined.
Which aircraft in the museum are very streamlined in shape Write your examples below.
…………………………………………………....................................................
When can an aircraft use air resistance to its advantage............................
……………………………………………………………………………………….
ENERGY RESOURCE AND ENERGY TRANSFER
Fuels are materials which can be burned and will release usable amounts of energy. Aircraft
use fuels made from oil and gas.
These are fossil fuels. Fossil Fuels are non renewable.
What do we mean by non renewable
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The engine on an aircraft is vital as it transforms fuel into the energy needed for
the aircraft to fly.
Fuel needs oxygen to burn (combust) and so it must be mixed with air.
As the fuel is burned in the engine the chemical potential (or stored) energy is released.
As well as light and heat energy, gases are produced when the fuel is burnt.
It is these gases that propel a jet aircraft forwards by being usefully transferred into Kinetic
(movement) energy.
AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET

AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET
Energy is measured in Joules. As the fuel burns the energy from the fuel is transformed
into different forms. In the case being described: heat, light and movement.
We must remember that no engine is 100% efficient some energy will inevitably be ‘lost’, for
example as friction in the engine.
Complete this sentence using the words from the box to
explain the law of Conservation of Energy:
Created
Destroyed
Transformed
Energy can not be ____________ or ________ - it is ____________ into different forms.
The Jet Engine
The engine sucks in and then compresses air before combustion with the fuel takes
place. Gases are then released, helping to generate thrust.
COMPRESSOR
COMBUSTION
CHAMBER
TURBINE
FUEL
FUEL
HEAT+ LIGHT
MOVEMENT
AIR INTAKE
FUEL BURNER
Why not take a look at the Jet Engine on display on the ground floor in the
Milestones of Flight building
See if you can identify all of the areas from the diagram above.
AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET

AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET
Find the exhibit titled Jet Propelled. Read the instructions carefully.
What happens to the chair as you throw the balls gently forward at the
canvas holder
……………………………………………………
The energy that is created by throwing the balls is usefully transferred to
thrust the chair in the opposite direction.
An opposite reaction has thus occurred, according to Newton’s Third Law.
This principle is seen when powering jet aeroplanes. The gases rushing
out of the jet engine thrust the aeroplane forwards.
Newton’s
Third Law
Every
action has
an equal
and
opposite
reaction
What happens to the chair if you throw the balls harder at the canvas holder
……………………………………………………
CLASSIFYING MATERIALS: GASES
Find the Hot Air Balloon exhibit.
Fill the balloon with hot air by pulling the ring and holding it down.
Complete the following sentences using the words below:
moving air descend rise cools
faster colliding dense further
In a gas the particles are much _______ apart
than in solids and liquids. The particles are
constantly ________ and ________with each
other.
When we heat the ________inside
the balloon the particles move
________and collide with the inside
of the balloon,
making it expand.
Hot air is less ________ than cold air.
Therefore the balloon will ________.
As the balloon rises, the air inside ________ down.
The balloon will ________.
What type of energy transfer is described above;
Conduction, Convection or Radiation
AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET

AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET
CIRCUITS
In a circuit the battery provides energy. This is transferred around the circuit by the current.
As the current flows through a component, electrical energy is transformed in different
forms, e.g. heat and light.
An electric current
is the rate of flow
of electric charge.
In metal
conductors
negatively charged
Electrons flow
producing a
current. Current is
measured in
Amps.
+ -
The battery
provides the
potential
difference.
Potential
difference is
measured in
Volts and is
commonly
called Voltage.
The more batteries there are in the circuit the greater the voltage will be. The greater the
voltage the more energy is transformed by the bulbs and so the brighter they will be.
A Series
Circuit
In a series circuit the current that
flows is the same in all parts of the
circuit, thus
A 1
V
+ –
A 2
A 1 = A 2
In a series circuit therefore, voltage
is shared between the bulbs
V
V
All
components
in one loop
A Parallel
Circuit
V
+ –
A 1
A 2
V
A 3
V
In a parallel circuit the current splits into
different branches and then combines again.
The current in each branch after the split is
equal to the current before the split therefore
A1 = A2 + A3.
In parallel circuits the voltage across
each bulb is the same as if it were the
only bulb connected to the battery.
Components
are arranged
in two or
more loops
AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET

AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET
CIRCUITS
The diagram below shows a Simple Series Circuit. Using the necessary components
construct The diagram a circuit below to shows light the a Simple bulb. Series Circuit. Using the necessary components
construct a circuit to light the bulb.
Add an ammeter to you circuit. Note down the current.
……………….Amps
Add an ammeter to you circuit. Note down the
current.
……………….Amps
Now place a second light bulb to your circuit. Does the light get brighter or dimmer
…………………………………….
Has the current increased or decreased Note the current now. …………Amps
Now place a second light bulb to your circuit. Does the light get brighter or dimmer
Add …………………………………….
the switch to your circuit. What happens to the current when
the switch is pressed down Look at the picture to help you.
Has the current increased or decreased Note the current now. …………Amps
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………….
Add the switch to your circuit. What happens to the current when
the switch is pressed down Look at the picture to help you.
……………………………………………………………………….…
………………………………………………………………………….
Try This
At Home
Can we find the Resistance of one bulb
Ohms Law states that the current flowing through a conductor
is proportional to the voltage across it.
Therefore V = I x R,
V = Voltage (measured in Volts)
I = Current (measured in Amps)
R = Resistance (measured in Ohms)
If V = 6V and I = Current (the first reading from your ammeter) find R
R = V ÷ I
R =
Ohms
AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET

AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET
Create a Parallel Circuit using the battery pack, two light bulbs, an ammeter and some
wires. Draw your circuit using the following symbols.
WIRE
BULB
AMMETER
A
BATTERY
Note down the current. ………………………..
How does the current in your Simple Series circuit differ from the current in your Parallel
circuit
…………………………………………………………………………………………
LIGHT AND SOUND
The light that we see around us is made up of all the different wavelengths of the colour
spectrum but is known as white light because of its appearance.
The way that this light appears to us can be changed using colour filters
Find the Colour Vision exhibit
Position the wheel to the white filter
Look through the slots; what colour do the objects and the letters look in the white
light
What colour is the sunflower ..............................................................................................
What colour is the Double Decker bus …………………………………………………………
What colour is the ball ........................................................................................................
An object reflects the wavelength of light related to the colour that we see and absorbs all
the others.
Now change the wheel to the red filter, this will only allow red light through; how does
this change how things look
What colour is the sunflower ..............................................................................................
What colour is the Double Decker bus …………………………………………………………
What colour is the ball ........................................................................................................
Now try changing it to the wheel to the other colours in turn
Does it change how you perceive the different colours of the objects or the letters
AERONAUTS INTERACTIVE KEY STAGE 3 DISCOVERY SHEET