airfoils everywhere
This two part experiment takes inspiration from nature’s fliers – including plant seeds, butterflies, and birds. Then we’ll make a test paper whirligigs and paper airplanes to see what we can learn about flight!
whirligig experiment
Join me to make and test paper whirligig’s to model how maple seeds fly! You will need two different weights of paper and some paper clips.
Or, you can test different wing designs to see if you can find a favorite flyer!
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paper airplane experiment
In this second experiment, we relate swimming to flapping flight, then learn how the Wright Brothers solved the problem of controlled flight!
Then we make a simple paper airplane, test it, and fly it. Try cutting flaps in the rear of the wing and bending one up. What happens?
Become a VIP subscriber to get FREE printable experiment PDF’s. Pro tip: in your print dialog box, select “DO NOT SCALE” option to print at full size.
Project first flight
For even more information on butterflies, flapping flight, and the connection to swimming – like how to make a 2D wind tunnel – check out the award-winning third book in my Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures series: Project First Flight! |
