How Do Aircraft Fly? (science In The Real World)

How Do Aircraft Fly? by Susan Markowitz Meredith Science and Curriculum Consultant: Debra Voege, M.A., Science Curriculum Resource Teacher AircraftFNL.indd 1 8/10/09 1:04:38 PM Science in the Real World: How Do Aircraft Fly? Copyright © 2010 by Infobase Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Chelsea Clubhouse An imprint of Chelsea House Publishers 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Meredith, Susan Markowitz. How do aircraft fly? / by Susan Markowitz Meredith; science and curriculum consultant, Debra Voege. p. cm. — (Science in the real world) Includes index. ISBN 978-1-60413-464-3 1. Aerodynamics—Juvenile literature. 2. Airplanes—Juvenile literature. I. Title. II. Series. QA930.M367 2010 629.132’3—dc22 2009002038 Chelsea Clubhouse books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Chelsea Clubhouse on the World Wide Web at http://www.chelseahouse.com Developed for Chelsea House by RJF Publishing LLC (www.RJFpublishing.com) Text and cover design by Tammy West/Westgraphix LLC Illustrations by Spectrum Creative Inc. Photo research by Edward A. Thomas Index by Nila Glikin Photo Credits: cover: Shutterstock; 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, 18, 19, 26: Alamy; 5, 21: iStockphoto; 11, 29: Associated Press; 17: Library of Congress LC-DIG-ppprs-00626; 22: AFP/Getty Images; 23: U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Robyn Gerstenslager; 25: U.S. Air Force; 27: NASA/Dryden Flight Research Center. Printed and bound in the United States of America Bang RJF 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on acid-free paper. All links and Web addresses were checked and verified to be correct at the time of publication. Because of the dynamic nature of the Web, some addresses and links may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. AircraftFNL.indd 2 8/10/09 1:04:39 PM Table of Contents Air All Around Us.................................................... 4 Two Types of Aircraft.............................................. 6 Hot-Air Balloons . .................................................... 8 Floating Airships.................................................... 10 Heavier-Than-Air Craft: The Basics...................... 12 Four Forces at Work............................................... 14 Flying an Airplane ................................................ 16 Staying Aloft Without Power................................. 18 Airliners.................................................................. 20 Helicopters............................................................. 22 Military Aircraft..................................................... 24 “Green” Designs..................................................... 26 Flying Machines Everywhere................................ 28 Glossary.................................................................. 30 To Learn More........................................................ 31 Index....................................................................... 32 Words that are defined in the Glossary are in bold type the first time they appear in the text. 5 AircraftFNL.indd 3 8/10/09 1:04:40 PM Air All Around Us G o outside on a windy day. You will soon discover just how strong air is. It can lift a kite high in the sky and grab onto a balloon and carry it away. But even when the air is calm, you can feel its strength when