Helicopter Rotors (Funky Physics Experiments)

You will need:

1. A stiff cardboard
2. 3 pencils (1 long and 2
   short pencils, all
   sharpened)
3. Large cello tape
4. Scissors
5. Measuring scale
6. Marker

Have fun by constructing your very own
helicopter rotors and learning how the laws
of physics apply to a flying contraption.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Take 2 shorter pencils and tape them on either side of the long pencil.
2. Note that the long pencil faces down and the shorter pencils face up when you tape them and the longer pencil must have enough length to hold comfortably in your hand.
3. Cut a piece of cardboard which is 2 cm by 10 cm.
4. Measure the centre of the cardboard strip and mark 2 holes in the centre by placing your shorter pencils to make the mark.
5. Place the cardboard on something soft, either a pen or pencil, to puncture holes through the mark. The holes must sit loose on the pencil nibs.
6. Next, make diagonal folds on either side of the cardboard and bend the flaps downward.
7. Take your rotor contraption outside, and slowly start spinning the long pencil in one direction using both hands.

RESULT

The rotors will take off and fly into the air. Even though the card stays in the same place yet the rotor ‘wings’ (bent flaps) move through the air. The same principle applies to helicopters.