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Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Which materials for your aircraft?
This is one of a series of resources from the IET designed around the theme of the future of flight with the purpose of developing pupils knowledge and skills in science, design technology and mathematics.
In this activity pupils learn about the density of materials in the context of comparing two aircraft of the same design. They will learn that the heavier one will need more energy and fuel to fly and will also fly slower than a lighter aircraft. Making an aircraft from suitable materials with a lower density means less weight – so less fuel is needed and it can fly faster.
Pupils will test various materials and have an opportunity to weigh and work out the volume of an object. They will use this information, and their number skills, to calculate the density. They will then repeat this for other objects and discuss their results as a class.
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