The Wing of A Pterosaur

SCIENCE CONCEPT:

The shape of the wing of a Pterosaurs is very similar to that of both bats and birds. Many scientists believe that the Pterosaurs were the forerunners to bats and birds.

STUDENT OBJECTIVE:

The student will draw a cross-sectional picture of the wing of the Pterosaurs and a diagram of the parts of the wing and label the various parts. The student will be able to observe the similarities between the shape of the wing of the Pterosaurs to that of bats and birds. The Quetzalcoatlus is the largest Pterosaur found to date with a wing span of up to 63 feet. This is the size of a modern aircraft such as a DC-3.

OVERVIEW:

The student will draw the cross sectional shape of the wing of the Pterosaurs and a diagram of its wing, and label.

PREPARATION TIME:

15 minutes.

LESSON TIME:

25-30 minutes.

TEACHER PREP:

Gather pictures of Pterosaurs - their wing shape and diagrammed wing shape.

WORDS TO KNOW:

Pterosaurs

cambered

membrane

fibrous

cross-sectional shape

TEACHER TEXT:

The shape of the wing of Pterosaurs is very similar to that of both bats and birds. It, in some ways, has features of both. Birds generally have a wing with a cross sectional shape of a common airfoil as used on aircraft. A rounded nose, relatively flat on the bottom, and a curved upper surface tapering to a thin point in the rear. This shape is achieved by a combination of the bony structure of the wing, the skin and muscle tissue of the wing, and the feathers overlaying the wing. A similar cross section of a bats wing will yield a wing slightly different, basically a cambered airfoil shape, that is, a wing which is a flattened semi-circular curve where the upper and lower surface follow the same shape. Both the bats wing and the birds wing provide lift and are very efficient for powered flight. Although there are differences and generally perhaps the bats wings are better adapted for slow flight birds for faster flight, they both are efficient wings.

In addition to the fossils found of Pterosaurs impressions of their wings and bodies have also been found. These impressions were apparently left in the mud where the animal died and have been included in the fossil record. The impressions indicate that the Pterosaurs had membrane type wings similar to bats, but longer and narrower similar to birds. Basically a cambered airfoil shape but with wing areas and aspect ratios similar to birds. The impressions also indicate that the "membrane" structure had a fibrous or muscle structure to it. All this leads to the conclusion that the Pterosaurs generally had membrane type wings, but with sufficient supporting structure to make the wing taught or on the rigid side. This drives the conclusion that the airfoil of the Pterosaurs allowed for precise flight control as in modern birds and bats. It tends to counter the argument that they were "failures at flight" as some have speculated. And it tends to lead to the conclusion that Pterosaurs were quite accomplished flyers.

Web Hosting Provided By The National Business Aviation Association.

Explore Space ... Not Drugs!
Hear what astronauts have to say about staying drug-free.
Last modified: Sun Nov 16 11:30:02 PST 1997