Helicopter

How do various factors affect the performance of a paper helicopter?

Be careful when cutting out your paper helicopter.

PLAN

Learn how to make a paper helicopter.

Fly the helicopter.

Record various data (e.g.: flight time, distance travelled, amount of spin.)

Choose ONE design detail to investigate.

Make a new spinner, changing the detail you have chosen.

Fly the helicopter again.

Record the same data.

Repeat as many times as you need to.

I WILL NEED

Paper (or card) to make helicopter.

Pencil.

Ruler.

Scissors.

Paperclips.

Watch with second hand.

Metre rule or tape measure.

CLICK HERE

for HELICOPTER

I MAY NEED

A stopwatch would make it easier to time the flight.

FAIR TEST

Make sure you change only ONE factor at a time.

From what height will you drop the helicopter?

PREDICTION

What do you think will happen when you change the length of the helicopter blades?

What do you think will happen when you use a heavier paperclip.

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY

Keep notes of each change you make and of the results.

What effect did each change appear to have?

Did you encounter any problems?

What did you do to overcome these?

You could change:

• the paper you use to make the helicopter

• the width of the paper you use (this will alter the width of the helicopter body and the width of the blades)

• the length of the helicopter blades (longer or shorter)

• the length of the flapped-up piece at the bottom of the body (longer or shorter)

• the size (and weight) of the paperclip.

but only investigate ONE variable at a time.

COLLECT

DATA

How long does each helicopter take to reach the ground?

How far does it travel?

How fast does it spin - and how can you measure this?

ANALYSE

DATA

What was the general effect of increasing the width of the paper used?

What was the effect of changing the blade length?

You could set out a table showing different widths and different lengths of paper used.

PRESENT

FINDINGS

What is the best way to show what you did?

Perhaps you could number all the spinners and keep them - and then include them in your presentation.

Is it possible to give a demonstration - or video part of the investigation?

EVALUATE

INVESTIGATION

If you have carried out this investigation, click the icon to send in your results to Brainboxx and we may publish your work on the website.  It is best to e-mail the results of your investigation or you may need to send them by post.  Make sure you get permission from a teacher, parent or other adult before you get in touch.

How helicopters work

Game

Paper helicopter