Welcome!  Use the questions and links below to explore some of the basic principles of aeronautics.

Click on the underlined text in each cell to go to that site.  When you have answered the questions for that link, click on "Back" to return to the worksheet and questions.

Read about the parts of an airfoil. 

• What is the leading edge?

• What is the trailing edge?

• What is the chord?

• What are the upper and lower camber?

Read about how Bernoulli's Principle is applied to the airfoil of an airplane wing.

• Where is the velocity of the moving air fastest?

• Where is the velocity of the moving air slowest?

• Where is the air pressure highest?

• Where is the air pressure lowest?

Read about the 3 axis of flight. 

• Where is the longitudinal axis located?

• Where is the vertical axis located?

• Where is the lateral axis located?

Read about the 4 forces of flight. 

• Which force acts on the airplane in the upwards direction?

• Which force acts on the airplane in the downwards direction?

• Which force acts on the airplane in the forward direction?

• Which force acts on the airplane in the backward direction?

Read about the motion of an airplane known as roll.  Click on the blue turn arrows to see a simulation of the airplane in roll. 

• Which of the 3 axes does the airplane rotate on when it rolls?

• What part of the airplane causes it to roll?

• What control inside the cockpit controls roll?

Read about the motion of an airplane known as pitch.  Click on the blue up and down arrows to see a simulation of the airplane in pitch. 

• Which of the 3 axes does the airplane rotate on when it pitches?

• What part of the airplane causes it to pitch?

• What control inside the cockpit controls pitch?

Read about the motion of an airplane known as yaw.  Click on the pedals in the blue boxes to see a simulation of the airplane in yaw. 

• Which of the 3 axes does the airplane rotate on when it moves in yaw?

• What part of the airplane causes it to yaw?

• What control inside the cockpit controls yaw?

Congratulations!  You have finished exploring the basic principles of aeronautics.  To test your knowledge, complete the aircraft motion quiz. 

• Click on the type of motion illustrated in the three animations.

• Click on the parts of an airplane that are shown and described.

• How well did you do?