Original broadcast: November 11, 2003 ’ Flying Machine Before Watching 1 Discuss with students the meaning of the following terms: control surfaces, , , , and . Program Overview • control surfaces: sections of the NOVA presents the story of Orville and plane that can be moved to change Wilbur Wright, who invented the first the direction of flight • wing warping: a concept first powered to achieve sustained, developed by the Wright brothers controlled flight. that allows control of the up-and- down movement of a plane’s wing The program: tips to roll the plane right or left • chronicles the brothers’ lives, from their first job running a bike • elevator: horizontal flaps on tail shop to their invention of the airplane. that control pitch • relates the duo’s avid pursuit of manned flight and their tenacious • rudder: vertical on the tail that provides yaw control resolve to develop a workable , despite their lack of formal • aileron: control surface that engineering training. allows rolling to the right or left • shows how the Wright brothers obtained information about 2 To build an airplane, the Wright experiments by previous innovators, yet rejected key data when it brothers studied existing techno- conflicted with the results of their own tests. logy—gliders and boat propellers— • looks at the obstacles to manned flight that the brothers tackled, modified it, tested it, and modified it mainly the problem of maintaining control of the airplane in flight. again. Organize students into three groups and have each group take • explains how lift occurs with an airfoil. notes on one of the following: obser- • describes the first powered flight of the Wright brothers on vations the Wright brothers learned , 1903, and looks at improvements the brothers made from studying existing machines, to their first design. ideas the brothers gathered from • discusses the measures the brothers took to protect their invention other scientists, and new designs the brothers developed. and keep their designs secret. • follows a modern-day team building and flying reproductions of the Wright brothers’ gliders and powered planes. AFTER WATCHING

1 Have students review their notes Taping Rights: Can be used up to one year after the program is taped off the air. and discuss how the Wright brothers learned to build a flying machine. What did they learn from studying existing machines? What ideas did they gather from scientists of their day? What new designs did they develop?

2 How has the invention of the air- plane influenced the history of the past century? How has it changed people’s lives? (Examples include changing the nature of warfare, per- mitting easier exchange of goods, and making long-distance travel easier and more affordable.)

 NOVA Teacher’s Guide www.pbs.org/nova/wright CLASSROOM ACTIVITY Standards Connection Objective The “What’s Wing Warping?” activ- To test the effects of wing warping by manipulating the leading and ity aligns with the following National trailing edges on the wings of a paper airplane. Science Education Standards. Materials for each team Grades 5–8 • copy of the “What’s Wing Warping?” student handout Science Standard B Physical Science • copy of the “Paper Airplane Template” student handout Motions and Forces • copy of the “Flight Data Sheet” student handout • The motion of an object can be • 8 1/2-inch x 11-inch piece of tag board (125# basis weight) described by its position, direction • scissors of motion, and speed. • large paper clip Grades 9–12 Science Standard B Procedure Physical Science Motions and Forces 1 Explain to students that they will simulate wing warping in this activity, a • Objects change their motion only concept that the Wright brothers developed. when a net force is applied. Laws of 2 Organize students into teams of two and distribute a copy of the motion are used to calculate “What’s Wing Warping?,” “Paper Airplane Template,” and “Flight Data precisely the effects of forces on the motions of objects. The magnitude Sheet” student handouts and other materials to each team. of the change in motion can be 3 Have students follow the directions on the “What’s Wing Warping?” calculated using the relationship student handout to construct their . Make sure students attach F = ma, which is independent of a large paper clip to the nose of their planes to counterbalance the lift the nature of the force. effect that will be created by the main wing. Also check that students sharply score the wing tips along the fold lines so that the wings can be easily adjusted. Video is not required 4 Review the challenge with the class. Students will fold the wing flaps up for this activity. or down on the leading and trailing edges of their plane wings in order to get them to fly straight, right, and down. 5 Find an open area where students can test their planes. Have team members take notes on how they choose to fold the wing flaps for each Classroom Activity Author design and record their notes on their “Flight Data Sheet” student hand- A teacher for 34 years, Steven outs. Instruct students to throw their planes gently when they Branting serves as a consultant for gifted and innovative programs conduct their trials. in the Lewiston, Idaho, public 6 After students have completed the trials, meet as a class to share schools and is a cartographer for the results. Discuss students’ answers to the questions listed on the the Lewis & Clark Rediscovery “What’s Wing Warping?” student handouts. Project. Branting and his students have won international honors in 7 As an extension, ask students to make further modifications to their physics, engineering and digital planes, such as changing the weight of the paper, changing the size or mapping. the position of the paper clip, or changing the design of the plane. Then have a contest to see whose plane can fly the farthest, turn the most sharply to the right, or complete the quickest dive.

wright brothers’ flying machine  NOVA Teacher’s Guide www.pbs.org/nova/wright ACTIVITY Answer links & books

Changing the shape of the wings Straight Flight Links can have a dramatic effect on the Folding the down NOVA Web Site—Wright Brothers’ flight path. The Wright brothers on both wings provides greater sta- Flying Machine bility for a long, straight flight. www.pbs.org/nova/wright/ used wing warping to control In this companion Web site for the their plane. Modern aircraft use NOVA program, find out why the movable sections on the wings To the Right Wrights were successful, manipulate the called or spoilers. Folding only the leading edge down controls of an online , read on the right wing makes the plane reports about the Wrights' earliest flights, learn about lift, and veer to the right. (Folding the right experiment with various airfoil designs. leading edge down and the right up will also work.) History of Flight www.flight100.org/ history_intro.html Dive Down Provides a timeline of flight includ- Folding the trailing edge up on ing profiles of famous aviators from both wings makes the plane dive around the world. down. Plane Math www.planemath.com/activities/ Sample Results pmenterprises/training.html Explains how airfoils work, the trial # left wing right wing left wing right wing results forces involved in flight, and other leading edge leading edge trailing edge trailing edge key factors involved in getting a

plane off the ground. 1 no change no change no change no change straight flight strong upward 2 no change no change down down pitch, quickly stalls Wing Warping wright..gov/airplane/warp.html 3 no change downward pitch no change up up Provides an interactive that allows 4 long, straight down down no change no change stable flight users to control the wing warping of a Wright Flyer and shows the forces 5 no change up no change no change twirls in mid-air associated with each configuration 6 no change no change no change up twirls in mid-air chosen. only. 7 no change no change no change down tends to stall use Books 8 downward pitch up up no change no change To Conquer the Air: The Wright

9 downward pitch, educational down up down no change minimum yaw Brothers and the Great Race for Flight for 10 up down down up pronounced yaw to right, pitch by James Tobin.

downward into granted dive to right, twirls New York, 2003. in mid-air Chronicles the lives of Orville

and Wilbur Wright and details their Permission contributions to aviation.

The Wright Brothers: A Flying Start Foundation. by Elizabeth MacLeod. Major funding for NOVA is Toronto, 2002. provided by Google and BP. Additional funding is provided Describes achievements of the Wright Educational by the Howard Hughes Medical brothers and provides a historical Institute, the Corporation for context for their inventions. WGBH

Public Broadcasting, and 2003 public television viewers. ©

wright brothers’ flying machine  NOVA Teacher’s Guide www.pbs.org/nova/wright Wright Brothers’ Flying Machine Student Handout What’s Wing Warping?

Wing warping is the twisting, or 4 Attach a paper clip to the nose. warping, of plane wings to control Slide it forward or backward the roll of the plane. The Wright to adjust the center of gravity. brothers first thought of this Sharply score the wing tips along system and used cables to control the fold lines so that they can be the up-and-down movement of easily repositioned. their wing tips to roll their aircraft 5 To steer your plane, decide to the right or left. In this activity, whether the wing tips should you will build paper airplanes and be up or down on the leading adjust the wing tips up or down to and trailing edges of the plane’s Questions simulate wing warping. Then you wings. Write your answers on a separate will test how it affects the flight of 6 Your first challenge is to work sheet of paper. your craft. with your team member to make 1 How can you make the plane your plane fly straight. Then turn to the right? How can you Procedure change the way you fold the flaps make it dive? 1 Cut out the paper airplane to make it curve to the right. 2 If you move the paper clip, how template. Trace this pattern on a Finally, make it dive down. Throw does that affect the flight path? piece of tag board. Copy the fold your plane gently when you con- 3 Of the two adjustable wing lines from the template onto the duct your trials. areas—leading or trailing tag board. 7 Use the charts on your “Flight edges—which provides greater 2 Cut out the rudder. Fold the air- Data Sheet” student handout to stability to the aircraft and allows plane body () along its record your team’s observations it to fly farther? center line, and place the rudder of the flight path and the wing 4 Which wing configuration flies into place in the tail position. flap positions for each different the longest and straightest? Why? 3 Staple the rudder into place. wing configuration your team Staple the fuselage three more tries. times, once near the front and twice in the center.

trailing edge

leading edge

trailing edge

leading edge Wright Brothers’ Flying Machine Student Handout Paper Airplane Template Wright Brothers’ Flying Machine Student Handout Flight Data Sheet

Sample trial # left wing right wing left wing right wing results leading edge leading edge trailing edge trailing edge

1 no change no change up neither twirls in mid-air

Straight Flight trial # left wing right wing left wing right wing results leading edge leading edge trailing edge trailing edge

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To the Right trial # left wing right wing left wing right wing results leading edge leading edge trailing edge trailing edge

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Dive Down trial # left wing right wing left wing right wing results leading edge leading edge trailing edge trailing edge

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