Tomahawk missile

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/tomahawk-missile

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 primary development institution?Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University
2. What is the key guidance technology?Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) and GPS
3. How does the Tomahawk stay on course during flight?It uses a combination of an inertial navigation system, GPS, and terrain‑contour matching. The computer compares the ground shape to a map and makes tiny corrections so it stays on the right path.
4. Why can the Tomahawk fly very low over the ground?By matching the terrain shape, the missile can fly just a few hundred feet above the ground. This low flight helps it avoid radar detection.

Cruise missile: An unmanned, self-propelled guided missile that sustains flight through aerodynamic lift.
Subsonic speed: Speeds less than the speed of sound (approximately 767 mph or 1,235 km/h at sea level).
Modular design: A design philosophy that breaks down a system into smaller, interchangeable components for easier modification and upgrades.