G2 Lab: Elastic Powered Helicopter
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Date:
Class:
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Energy: 能量 something is able to move or do work.
Elastic: 弹 A material that can stretch and go back.
Helicopter: 直升机
Measure: 测量
Rubber band: 橡皮筋
Food gives us the energy to walk. Elastic materials can also store energy. When
we twist or stretch the elastic, we give it some energy. When we let go this
energy is released and the elastic moves.
In today’s lab we will see how elastics store energy, and how that energy is used
by the elastic to power a small helicopter.
Step 1: Build your elastic helicopter.
Step 2: Using tape, attach a tape measure/ruler to the wall. You will use this to
measure how high the helicopter flies.
Step 3: Turn the helicopter’s blade 100 times. Then place it on the floor and let it
go. The helicopter will fly upwards. Using the tape measure observe how high it
went. Do this 3 times and write what you observed below.
/3
Try 1:_____________
Try 2:______________
Try 3:________________
Step 4: This time, turn the helicopter’s blade 250 times. Then do the same thing
as step 3. /3
Try 1:_____________
Try 2:______________
Try 3:________________
Step 5: This time, use a timer to record how long the helicopter flies after winding
100 times and 250 times.
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100 Times:_____________
250 Times:______________
Questions:
1. Did the helicopter fly higher after 100 turns or 250 turns? /1
2. Why did turning the helicopter’s blades more make it fly higher? Think about
what happened to the elastic band and energy. /2
3. What are two ways you could make the helicopter fly even higher?
/2