What is the science behind paper helicopters?
The two forces acting on the paper helicopter are gravity and air pressure. The air pressure pushes up against the blades as it falls. When the air pushes upward on the slanted blade, some of that thrust becomes a sideways, or horizontal, push. It happens to both blades at the same time, causing a spinning motion.
What affects the speed of a paper helicopter?
The faster the blades spin, the less the air can get by, and the slower the helicopter falls. By experimenting with the weight, shape, and position of the blades, you change how fast and how much air is pushed out of the way.
What affects a paper helicopter?
Test factors that influence flight time must also be identified. For the helicopter experiment, the factors could be paper type, rotor length, leg length, leg width and paper clip.
What is causing the paper helicopters to fly in place?
The spinning is caused by the force of air acting on each of the helicopter’s blades. The air presses on each of the blades with an equal force but in the opposite direction and the helicopter spins around. the faster it will drop to the floor and as the forces of air act on it, it will spin even quicker!
What was the dependent variable in the helicopter experiment?
Bonita’s dependent variable is the amount of time the helicopter stays in the air.
Why does a paper helicopter fall slowly?
Aircraft such as helicopters with spinning blades are called rotary wing, unlike traditional airplanes, which are fixed wing. This generates additional lift that slows the whirlybird even as it drops. So, it will fall much slower than if you crumpled up the same piece of paper and dropped it.
How do you make a paper helicopter go faster?
Try switching the direction of the folds for blades A & B. Make note of the direction the helicopter spins this time. Weight affects how quickly the helicopter spins, try adding additional paper clips and watch how the helicopter spins faster! Make the helicopters in different sizes.
What happens when you drop a paper helicopter?
When you drop your paper helicopter, air rushes out from under the wings in all directions. The clips add weight to your helicopter, which turns your blades to a slant and more air hits the blades. As the air hits the blades, they spin even faster!
How does a paper helicopter spin?
Why do paper helicopters work?
How does it work? As your paper helicopter falls, air pushes up against the blades which slows down the fall. Because there are two or more blades going in different directions, they are both getting pushed by the air but in opposite directions. Those two opposing pushes cause the paper to spin.
What is a paper Helicopter Experiment?
Introduction: The paper helicopter experiment involves designing a paper helicopter and by changing a certain variable acquire data for a selected variable. The essential part in this practical is to plan the experiment in detail in order to obtain substantial data.
What is the independent variable in the Helicopter Experiment?
Variables: Independent variable: The independent variable, the thing I will change throughout the experiment, will be the mass of the helicopter. This will be done by adding paper clips to the tail of the helicopter. By adding mass the dependent variable will be affected.
How can I design my Own Paper helicopter?
In order to do that you may consider using printable paper helicopter templates provided by this website. At our paper helicopter factory you may customize the helicopter design to suit your needs by setting values of factor levels and other parameters.
What equipment do I need to measure the mass of a helicopter?
Apparatus: Stopwatch Thick card paper (card stock) Paper clips Scissors Pen Tape Measuring tape (metric ruler) Variables: Independent variable: The independent variable, the thing I will change throughout the experiment, will be the mass of the helicopter. This will be done by adding paper clips to the tail of the helicopter.