Science 5: Forces

See Max do some fun experiments to learn about buoyancy.

How do we know what things will float and which will sink. You can figure that out if you know a little about buoyancy.

A good explanation of drag force in water and air

Learn about water displacement and why some heavy things sink and others float.

This history of the marine propeller explains how propellers work underwater to move ships.

Why does a tiny paper clip sink in water but a HUGE cargo ship float? Let's see!

The science behind how water striders harness the physical properties of water to let them walk on top of it!

Students will learn about density and a little about engineering submarines in this video.

Learn all about water resistance and how it impacts motion in liquids. See examples of water resistance

We will be using different shaped pieces of blue-tac and dropping them into a jug of water to see which one drops the fastest and why.

This video that breaks down why cruise ships won't be found at the bottom of the ocean -- it's all about design!

An examination of why the propeller of ships is found at the stern and explain why it just wouldn't work as well if it was at the bow.

Examine the forces that act on an airplane, the pilot controls, and the design process engineers use to develop airplanes that manage these conditions.

Want to learn how to make a paper plane designed by John Collins, “The Paper Airplane Guy”, that held the world record for flying time for over 10 years. Bet you can fold an even better paper airplane but this one is a good start.

The physics phenomenon called drag or drag force slows objects down. Watch this fun video to discover how drag works.

This PBS site explains the benefits and challenges of changing the height and speed of flights.

This interactive site lets students explore the physical forces at play during the flight of a plane.

This site, developed by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, answers your pressing questions about the basic principles that make it possible for aircraft and spacecraft to fly.

This site gives students text and videos that explore how airplanes fly.

This 5-minute video describes some of Leonardo da Vinci's most impressive ideas, including the ornithopter and parachute.

This NASA resource describes the basics of flight using diagrams, charts and descriptors. Included are: the four forces of flight, plane movements, cockpit instruments and explanation of each.

What makes an airplane fly? How does a spacecraft stay in orbit? Why does a balloon float in the air? What are you waiting for? Come and find out!

A database of paper airplanes with easy to follow folding instructions, video tutorials and printable folding plans. Find the best paper airplanes that fly the furthest and stay aloft the longest.

Learn how a quadcopter-type drone can move in all different directions using only propellers that face in the same direction!

In this video, you'll learn how changing the size of an object can change the resistance it faces.

Explore the physics of flight, and discover how aerodynamic lift generates the force needed for planes to fly.

When a person falls, they are pulled downwards by gravity. We can change how fast someone falls with some clever engineering. Learn how.

This is an interactive site that takes students through through a variety of hangers which contain information and activities about flight.

Watch as Hangar Flight Museum Dwight talks about the four forces that act on an aircraft!

Learn how propellers generate thrust.

This video explains why some popular ideas of flight are incorrect. Listen and watch explanations of two theories of lift.

An interactive exercise that lets students match natural and designed wings to their flight specialty

This film captures the human connection and bond created by Canada’s well-known craft & symbol, the canoe.

The First Nations people of the Northwest Coast are renowned for their elegantly engineered canoes. Ranging in length from three to twenty metres, canoes were essential for travel, transport, hunting, and trade.

By building canoes using only materials harvested from the land, Indigenous peoples are connecting to the past and ensuring their culture survives.

An Yupik man from Alaska discusses the use of harpoons in hunting.

This video shows Indigenous methods to make a harpoon fashioned after the harpoons made by Northwest Coast/Inuit tribes.

An article that discusses the use of spears and harpoons for fishing by Indigenous peoples in BC.

An article about the understanding and use of the bow and arrow among the Lakota

This booklet highlights traditional designs of west coast canoes.

Watercraft have long played a vital role in the cultures of most First Peoples in Canada. You can learn about the different types of traditional watercraft on this site.

This lesson expands on the classic aluminum foil boat project by testing designs against waves! Sign up for a free account to see the full lesson.

Students will understand the concepts of buoyancy and water displacement to design a watercraft that will support a given amount of weight.

The lesson uses submarines as a framework on which to build knowledge and conduct experiments.

Students plan, investigate, and model the motion of a sailboat using balanced and unbalanced forces of wind.

An engaging resource for teachers to explore the science and engineering of submarines with students

Resources to use with your class as they explore aerodynamics. You can bypass the sign-in by clicking an image.

Students look at what the effect of different airplane designs are on its flying characteristics. The lesson touches on coding principles by following a process from design to testing to revision and re-testing. Challenges and Task Sheet

Students will learn about forces and motion as they see how the work of Bernoulli and Newton help explain flight.

Students build a small sailboat with simple materials. Then we use the boat to explore the forces acting on it and how it affects the motion of the boat. Handout; Presentation

In this lesson, learners will create a game about the first international flight from Seattle to Vancouver. Learners will explore several Scratch techniques

Through a series of simple hands-on activities, students learn about engineering design, drag and why these are important to aeronautical engineers.

Students use what they know about the 4 forces of flight in this challenge to design, build, and test a model plane in a simple wind tunnel.

Lesson plans and activities from the US Federal Aviation Administration. Featuring stimulating puzzles and hands-on experiments

Students will engage in flight experiments using to determine which materials & shapes are most and least susceptible to lift, weight, drag, and thrust.

Resources to use with your students as they explore the science of flight. You can bypass the sign-in by clicking the image.

Students use graphing in a real-world situation to learn about geofencing. Using coordinate systems with maps, students evaluate flight routes. Student Guide

Using the distance formula, students calculate the distance between coordinates and determine the feasibility of delivery drones Student Guide

This lesson provides a real-world scenario through which students get practice using the distance and speed formulas. Student Guide

Students use the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate airspeed, wind speed, and groundspeed. Student Guide

Students calculate the speed formula to determine the time to an intersect point. Student Guide

Students will learn about motions and forces, and transfer of energy as they explore the basics behind the four forces of flight.

This educator guide consists of 7 activities including a storyboard and role-play activity. The storyboard introduces students to airport and aircraft terminology including engine types

Students build a number of different paper airplanes and then systematically test them using a data analysis tool they build in Scratch. Challenges, Playoffs, and Scratch Coding

This activity explains the science behind controlling the movement of a quadcopter. Newton’s third law of motion, torque, and the fundamentals of rotary flight are introduced.

Students will explore how wing design affects lift using a testing device similar to a wind tunnel.

Education World offers a cargo of lessons about aviation that are just plane fun! Lessons in which students complete experiments about air flight, design model airplanes, and do much more!

Teach students about simple circuitry as they build a paper circuit on a paper helicopter template

Students use household items and apply the engineering design process to create X-plane gliders that can fly at least 3 meters and must remain intact when landing.