Stealth technology

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/stealth-technology

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core technologies?Geometric shaping for wave deflection and Radar-Absorbent Materials (RAM) for energy absorption
2. What is the historical milestone?The F-117 Nighthawk, the first operational stealth aircraft, entered service in 1983
3. How do stealth planes make radar waves bounce away?They have angled surfaces that send radar waves in different directions instead of back to the radar. This reduces the echo that the radar can detect.
4. Why do stealth planes have weird angles?The angles help deflect radar waves away from the radar’s receiver. Early stealth planes used many flat sides, while newer ones use smoother shapes that still keep the radar cross‑section low.

Radar Cross-Section (RCS): A measure of the degree to which an object reflects radar signals, indicating its detectability.
Radar-Absorbent Material (RAM): Engineered materials designed to absorb incident electromagnetic radiation, converting it into heat.
Signature Management: The process of reducing or masking an object's detectable characteristics, including radar, infrared, visual, and acoustic signatures.