We’ve all seen a plane take off from a long runway, but what if you don’t have a full-sized runway?

On aircraft carriers, jets are launched into the air — zero to 165 mph in three seconds! Tune in as we take you to the deck of an aircraft carrier to learn about the science behind launching and landing airplanes from a ship. Embrace your need for speed in this episode of STEM in 30.

Have questions after the program? Tune in to learn more about naval aviation from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Standards for Educators:

NGSS:
MS-ETS1-2 Engineering Design (Design Solutions)
MS-ETS1-4 Engineering Design (Optimizing Designs)
MS-PS2-2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions (Buoyancy)

For more educational resources on Naval Aviation, be sure to check out the STEM in 30 collection on Smithsonian Learning Lab.

STEM in 30 is the National Air and Space Museum’s webcast series for middle school students. Tune in every month to share the fascination of aviation and space with your students.

This episode is made possible by the generous support of the Gertrude E. Skelly Charitable Foundation.