What A Drag BALLOON JET ACTIVITY

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What A Drag!BALLOON JET ACTIVITY

• MAGNET STUDENT PROJECT
• Johnson STEM Elementary
• Cathleen Post
• Third Grade

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Objective This activity creates a balloon jet,
and also demonstrates the effect of drag.
Content Area Science, Technology, and
MathematicsStandards Measurement Geometry
1.1 Statistics, Data Analysis, Probability1.2,
1.3, 1.4 Mathematical Reasoning 2.3 Number
Sense 1.1, 2.1 Physical Science
1d Investigation Experimentation 5a-e
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What A DragPre-show

• Students are in small groups of 4
• Each group came up with a name for their Balloon
  Jet.
• Each group made a prediction on how far they
  thought their Jet would go without drag and with
  drag.
• One person in the group drew a diagram of their
  Balloon Jet.

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What A DragProcedures

• Each group created one Balloon Jet
• Threaded their string through a straw and
  attached the straw to their Balloon Jet.
• Two designated string holders held the ends of
  the string and went far apart to tighten the
  string until it was taut.
• One designated Pilot blew up the Balloon Jet
  using 3 large blows.
• On signal the pilot let the balloon go.
• All team members observed the jet fly and land,
  one member marked the landing.
• Each group repeated the flight twice, keeping the
  balloon the same size.

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What A DragProcedures continued

• 8. The groups repeated steps 3-7, but this
  time each pilot attached a paper plate to the
  front of their Jet. The paper plate represented
  a jet with drag.
• Then the students observed and measured the
  distance the Balloon Jet traveled and recorded it
  on their Group Data Sheet.
• After all the groups completed the activity and
  Group Data Sheet, we compared the results.

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What A DragDiscussion Questions

• Which jet went a shorter distance? Why?
• The class came to the conclusion that Balloon
  Jets with drag went a shorter distance because
  drag slowed the jet down. They believe drag is
  necessary when an aircraft need to land.

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What A DragDiscussion Questions

• Why is it important for an aircraft to have less
  drag?
• The class discussed that it is important for an
  aircraft to have less drag so it can go farther
  and use less energy to get there.
• How are aircrafts designed to overcome drag?
• They are designed so that there is very little
  drag. The students connected this to race car
  designs.

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What A DragCulminating Activity Pixie
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Did You Know

• The Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird, which was
  retired in 1995, is still the highest flying and
  fastest jet ever developed. On July 28, 1976,
  the SR-71 set absolute world records for speed
  (2,193 miles per hour) and altitude (more than
  85,000 ft.). The SR-71s wing configuration and
  airflow devices in the engine minimized drag and
  contributed to the aircrafts ability to reach
  speeds in excess of March 3.