Flight

"Flight" is the first episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy. It aired on September 10, 1993.
==Content==
Bill Nye introduces the series by talking about flight and what causes it. Out in the field he witnesses model planes flying overhead. Back at the lab, he talks about "air pressure" which is one of the many causes of flight. Using the "plastic airplane of science", he gives an example as to how air pressure on a plane works. Basically, the air moving underneath the plane moves slower than the air over it, thus the air pressure under the wing is higher than the pressure over it and causes "lift", the same thing that allows it to go up in the air. This is known as the "Bernoulli Effect". The curvature of the wings also aid in flight, but it does not need to be curved as much to allow an "angle of attack".
Bill Nye once again shows off a plastic airplane to exhibit the subjects he talked about. He then shows air pressure in action by playing with balloon animals and showing how the air allows to give the balloons shape. Without air pressure, the balloons would go flying. A couple of kid scientists show an experiment involving a text book, a couple of pencils and a balloon. Using the pencils to balance the book, the kids blow the balloon underneath the text book and lift it off the table. Bill Nye goes parasailing to show how the same laws apply to such a thing before showing off footage of a plane taking off and how air pressure is being applied to the Boeing 727.
Captain Suzanna Darcy allows the children to fly a virtual plane in a simulator to show what goes on in the cockpit. Bill Nye uses water in a test tube to show off air pressure and the kid scientist shows an experiment wherein one could cause two ping pong balls to move when you blow air between them. The Bernoulli Effect is mentioned once again with Bernoulli "The Swiss Guy's" home country getting a shout out. Air traffic control specialist Laurence Randolph Jr. explains how he helps planes take off and land safely. The Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart are mentioned as pioneers of flying on a fictional talk show called the "The Johnny Lift Show".
Bill Nye enters a wind tunnel to explain air pressure further and gives further examples to how dynamic pressure works which involve the human body playing a part in moving machines. He shows footage of the Gossamer Albatross and the man who flew it. A man and group of kids fly kites as an example of flight. The Angle of Attack is mentioned again with Bill Nye riding in a plane and a helicopter who explain how the wind gives lift to each vehicle. The kid scientists create small whirlybirds that one might find around their house to show off examples of flight. This is followed by a music video of "Smells Like Air Pressure" by Nyevana (a parody of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana).
Bill Nye summarizes the lesson. In order for their to be lift, there are three things one must consider:
#"Air has pressure."
#"To get things to fly, we want differences in air pressure and those differences in air pressure come from Bernoulli's Principle."
#"When you give a wing an angle of attack, then Bernoulli's Principle comes in and makes low pressure on top and high pressure on the bottom and that creates lift."
==Key words==
*Flight
*Air Pressure
*Lift
*Bernoulli Effect
*Angle of Attack
Category:Bill Nye the Science Guy episodes
Category:Series premieres
Category:Episode stubs