Funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds RAF 100: Aiming for Awesome celebrates the centenary of the RAF and explores its engineering achievements over the last 100 years. There are 10 resources, each covering a different decade of RAF history. Each resource allows Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils to explore, through hands on activities, the applications of the knowledge they learn in science, design and technology, mathematics and computing.
The aim of this resource is to give students the opportunity to investigate the impact of STEM on making stealth vehicles. Stealth is the ability to evade detection by radar, infrared sensors or emission interception. Stealth provides greater survivability, and makes it easier for aircraft to operate in contested areas without being detected. This resource will allow students to understand about how things can go undetected: not just aircraft but animals too! They will look at colours and filters and radar detection systems.
Time to investigate 1: students will explore how different colours are made, and what white light is made up of.
Stretch and challenge: students should use filters to work out how to make the secondary colours of light.
Time to investigate 2: students should investigate how the size and shape of an aircraft is an important consideration to avoid detection and write the method of their investigation, discuss variables and record results on a table.
The activities are expected to last 60 minutes.
The following items per student:
Resources
Aiming for awesome: Aircraft design investigates the impact of STEM on aircraft design
Aiming for awesome: Radar investigates the impact of STEM on radar technology.
Aiming for awesome: speed record investigates the STEM behind travelling at speed.
Aiming for Awesome: Ejection seat investigates the STEM involved in designing ejection seats.
Aiming for awesome: Code breaking investigates the impact of STEM on code breaking and security.
Aiming for awesome: Satellite age investigates the STEM behind satellite communications.
Aiming for awesome: Disaster relief
Aiming for awesome: Logistics challenge investigates how the RAF use STEM skills when planning a mission.
Aiming for awesome: Remotely piloted air systems gives students the opportunity to investigate the use of STEM when controlling Remotely Piloted Air Systems.