Secondary Module 4: Lift, Drag and Speed

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Learning Objectives

Explain how hydrofoils generate lift and reduce drag by applying balanced/unbalanced forces, thrust, buoyancy, gravity, Bernoulli’s Principle and Newton’s Laws.
Design, build, and test a standard aerofoil, collecting and recording lift data with appropriate units and methods.
Modify and justify one variable—e.g., camber, chord length, leading edge, or trailing edge—using SCAMPER, then retest and analyse performance changes.
Compare and communicate class results, evaluate which design choices maximised lift, and connect findings to America’s Cup foiling innovations.

Lesson Description

This module is broken into five lessons :

Lesson 1 - Intro to forces, lift and foiling:
Students will explore how hydrofoils create lift under the water and allow a boat to lift above the water, considerably reducing drag, and increasing speed. Concepts such as balanced and unbalanced forces, thrust, drag, buoyancy, gravity and Bernoulli’s Principle will be explored to assist understanding. Students will learn where foiling in the America’s Cup begin in the ‘Birth of Foiling’ ‘STEM in Focus’ section.

Lesson 2 - STEM Challenge Part One - Build an aerfoil:
Over one lesson, students will use the method provided to ‘Build a standard aerofoil’ and test it’s ability to produce lift while also collecting data.

Lesson 3 - STEM Challenge Part Two - Improve, Create, Test:
Students will have an opportunity to use SCAMPER to modify the original design in order to ‘Build an aerofoil that is able to produce the most lift’. Discuss effect of camber, chord length, leading and trailing edge of aerofoil (use YouTube videos to assist explanation). Students choose one variable to change, then build this new design, re- test it, record results and note any improvements.

Lesson 4 - Class test day, analysis and extension:
Each group will present their new design to the teacher who will test this final design in front of the class to compile data and discuss benefits of certain changes. Students will also analyse their design using the STEM Challenge Analysis Questions section.

Lesson 5 - Optional 'Extra for Experts':
If time permits, students will begin the ‘Extra for Experts’ section. This is a series of application questions that are based on the reading and understanding of the entire module.

Please note - Lesson times are a pacing guide. You can adjust the pace depending on your school's timetable/students' abilities.

Resources

Access resources here

Secondary Teaching Program (Linked to Australian Curriculum
Secondary Module 4 Teacher Guide
Secondary Module 4 Student Workbook
Secondary Module 4 Student Workbook (Answers)
Secondary Module 4 Student PowerPoint
Secondary Module 4 Teacher PowerPoint
Secondary Module 4 Lab Request Form
Secondary Module 4 Assessment
Secondary Module 4 Assessment Answer Key

Other Modules

Module 1	Module 2	Module 3	Module 4	Module 5
Module 6	Module 7	Module 8	Module 9	Module 10