Lesson 15: Atmosphere Layers and Flight Levels
Lesson 16: Temperature and Density Altitude
Lesson 17: Winds and Crosswinds
Lesson 18: Relative Humidity
Lesson 19: Clouds
Quick Links:
Aviation 1
Aviation 3
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Lesson 15: Atmosphere Layers and Flight Levels
The atmosphere is divided into 5 major zones. Most flights and weather happens in the troposphere, with some high aircraft operating in the stratosphere. The mesosphere is where most meteors burn up. The ISS orbits in the thermosphere. The exosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium, and is the outermost layer where particles are so far apart that they can travel hundreds of miles without colliding with one another.
Lesson 16: Temperature and Density Altitude
When temperature changes, air density changes. Warmer temperatures mean lower density, and less molecules mean less lift and thrust for your airplane.
Materials:
- hair dryer
- thin plastic bag
- scissors
- duct bag
Materials:
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- two water bottles
- food dye
- water
Lesson 17: Winds and Crosswinds
Crosswinds are the component of wind that is perpendicular to the runway. Crosswinds are corrected for during flight as they push the aircraft off course. If you fly straight along your flight path and don’t correct for crosswind, you can wind up miles off course.
Lesson 18: Relative Humidity
Relative humidity is the amount of moisture in the air compared to what the air can hold at that temperature.
Lesson 19: Clouds
There are four different kinds of clouds, and you can read them like signpost in the sky to tell you what kind of bumpy ride (or not) you’re in for.
Materials:
- 2L soda bottle
- rubbing alcohol
- bicycle pump
- car tire valve (use a 1/2" drill bit for the hole int he cap, and use pliers to pull the valve stem through the cap
When you've completed all the lessons on this page, you're ready for Aviation 3!
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