Session 2: Displacement of a plane in the three dimension space

Objective 1:  To determine in which direction a plane is able to move.

Objective 2: To investigate that changes of direction happen around one point, which is the gravity center.

Explanation

Material

• Small model of airplane

Maximum duration

45’

Main question to be asked

What is the main difference between the displacement of a plane and the displacement of a car?

Introduction/Starters

Propose to the children to take a model of an airplane and ask them to show you in which direction a plane can move when it is moving.

When all of them have finished their experiment, ask them where they have put their hands to handle the place. Make them realise that none (normally) have taken the plane by its tail for example.

Take a model of a car and ask them to do the same, putting the car in a normal position on the floor, and not in the air, what is the difference?

Normally, all of them will handle intuitively it around the gravity centre. That is what we are investigating.

Main activities

Give them the …. and ask them to build an object that looks  like a plane with two wings and a tail and put it in equilibrium on a tooth pick.

Then demonstrate how you will have to push to change the directions of the plane on the different axis
Give them the sheets added in appendix to learn the exact aeronautical terms.

Conclusion/Plenary

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