PROGRAMS

How Do Heavy Things Fly?

VCE Physics: Unit 2, Area of Study 2, Option 2.3

The VSSEC Wind Tunnel is lent to your school. An educator visits the school to both set up and introduce students and teachers to its operation.

Students explore principles surrounding controlled flight. Areas covered – lift, drag, gravity, thrust and angle of attack – give focus to exploring Bernoulli’s principle, differences in aircraft performance at supersonic and subsonic speeds and the stall potential of an aircraft. Students

  • use equipment typically found at a university or in industry.
  • design and create an aerofoil based on the principles of functioning aircraft.
  • analyse and test their design using a purpose-built Wind Tunnel to collect flight data.
  • compare their aerofoil designs and argue about what forces are contributing to lift, drag, gravity, thrust and stall.
Delivery format:
  • Two-Visit Format: A VSSEC educator visits your school to set up the Wind Tunnel and deliver an introductory session (90–120 minutes). The Wind Tunnel remains at your school for a week, allowing students to work on, test, and refine their prototypes. The educator returns a week later to guide the analysis session and pack up the Wind Tunnel.
  • Full-Day Format: Ideal for rural schools, this option involves a single-day visit where a VSSEC educator sets up the Wind Tunnel and delivers three sessions: introduction, application, and analysis. Afterward, the educator packs up the Wind Tunnel and departs

Available to Victorian Government Schools only

Select language:

Select booking option:

  • At a Glance
  • More Information

Victorian Government Schools only

 

$500 plus GST for one class, week-long hire , includes two 2-hour visits by VSSEC Staff and resources

$750 plus GST for two classes, week-long hire ,  includes two visits by VSSEC Staff and resources

 

Please ask if your school is eligible for a subsidy.

Year 11.