Beginner's Guide to Propulsion: Air Pressure

Beginner's Guide to Propulsion
Air Pressure
Subject Area(s): Physical Science
Grade Level: 9
Time Required: Basic lesson is 2 class periods; extension lesson may vary
National Standards:

Science

Unifying Concepts and Processes:

Evidence, models, and explanation.

Form and function.

Science as Inquiry: Understandings about scientific inquiry.

Physical Science:

Motions and forces.

Structure and properties of matter.

Technology

Research Tools - Use content-specific tools, software and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research.

Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Tools - Routinely and efficiently use on-line information resources to meet needs for collaboration, research, publications, communications, and productivity.

Objectives:

You will study the effects of air pressure on a used pop can.
After observing the changes that occur in a used pop can during the activity, you will, with the aid of the Beginner's Guide to Propulsion, offer an explanation of the changes and apply what you have learned to the operation of a gas turbine engine.
You will also investigate a question you or your group have on air pressure and/or gas turbine engines.


The Beginner's Guide to Propulsion is a Web site of information prepared at NASA Glenn Research Center to help you better understand aircraft engine propulsion. Click on the Beginner's Guide Index to access the list of slides. Open the slide entitled A ir Pressure and read the description. Use this description as background information to help you complete the activity.

Note: The implosion of the empty pop can is presented as an aid in visualizing the effects of air pressure and force.

Assessment:

You will be assessed on the extent of detail provided by your observations and by the use of scientific concepts in your explanations as recorded in your journals.

Evaluation:

You will be evaluated on your ability to research your extension question and present to the class information found in the Beginner's Guide to Propulsion and the World Wide Web. You are expected to be on task, and journals will be randomly checked.

Submitted by: Norma Holowach, Lakeview High School, Cortland, Ohio

Beginner's Guide to Propulsion Air Pressure Subject Area(s): Physical Science Grade Level: 9 Time Required: Basic lesson is 2 class periods; extension lesson may vary National Standards:

Beginner's Guide to Propulsion
Air Pressure
Subject Area(s): Physical Science
Grade Level: 9
Time Required: Basic lesson is 2 class periods; extension lesson may vary
National Standards: