Spinner-design
What is the best design for a flying spinner?
You will need to test your spinner by dropping it from a height of maybe 3 metres: be careful when doing this.
Be careful when using scissors.
PLAN
Learn how to make a basic "spinner".
Drop your spinner from a set height and position.
Record various data (e.g.: flight time, landing position, amount of spin.)
Decide which design detail you wish to vary.
Make a new spinner, changing ONE detail.
Drop the new spinner from the same height and position.
Record the same data.
Repeat as many times as you need to.
I WILL NEED
Paper.
Ruler.
Scissors.
Metre rule (or similar)
Pencil & paper.
I MAY NEED
Stopwatch.
Stepladder.
FAIR TEST
Make sure that you only change ONE variable at a time.
PREDICTION
You will need to make a lot of predictions as you carry out the tests.
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 spinner
-
the width of the spinner (wider or narrower)
-
the length of the spinner (longer or shorter)
-
the length of the tail pieces (longer or shorter)
but only investigate ONE variable at a time.
COLLECT
DATA
How long does each spinner take to reach the ground?
How far does it travel?
How fast does it spin - and how can you measure this?
ANALYSE
DATA
Do you notice a pattern?
What was the general effect of increasing the paper width?
What was the general effect of increasing the paper 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 were going to do this investigation again, how would you improve it?
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.
Spinner