By Melissa Gould Monday, April 4, 2016 Posted in: UNH STEM Discov...
Adriana and Desiré make design modifications to their glider planes in the STEM Discovery Lab with help from Sean Tavares, assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology. On March 22, students participating in the 10-week Design Make Code course at the STEM Discovery Lab at UNH Manchester took flight with a lesson on aeronautics. Students in grades 6 through 8 from three of the local Manchester middle schools learned the basics of flight by building gliders out of foam plates. Sean Tavares, assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology taught the class which was based on an educational activity developed by the Academy of Model Aeronautics. Students used templates to trace the design and then cut out the pieces and assembled their planes all the while learning about rudders, tails and fins. A penny added to the nose gave the proper balance needed for stability. Then it was time to test the gliders. In the multi-purpose room, gliders soared across room as the students tested their planes and made a host of tiny adjustments trying to improve balance and to generate a flight path that was flat and straight. “Being an engineer means learning to adjust your airplane,” Tavares said.
