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
- At a Glance
- More Information
Available to Victorian Government Schools only
Available to Victorian Government Schools only
Price on application, includes two visits by staff, needed resources and renting of the equipment.
Please ask if your school is eligible for a subsidy.
Year 11.