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Rotocopter Lab

The document describes a rotocopter lab activity to determine how changing one aspect of a rotocopter's size affects the time it takes to reach the ground when dropped. Students will build three rotocopters that vary only in one dimension, such as blade width or stem length. They will drop each model 10 times and record the time it takes to hit the ground. By analyzing the data, students can conclude how the variable they changed impacts drop time. The activity teaches using the scientific method to test hypotheses.

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Mofa Kea
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880 views

Rotocopter Lab

The document describes a rotocopter lab activity to determine how changing one aspect of a rotocopter's size affects the time it takes to reach the ground when dropped. Students will build three rotocopters that vary only in one dimension, such as blade width or stem length. They will drop each model 10 times and record the time it takes to hit the ground. By analyzing the data, students can conclude how the variable they changed impacts drop time. The activity teaches using the scientific method to test hypotheses.

Uploaded by

Mofa Kea
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Using the Scientific Method

Rotocopter Lab Activity

Rotocopters are made of paper and twirl to the ground slowly when dropped. Build a rotocopter using the design provided. Notice that there is a blade, a collar, and a stem. Each of these three could be different sizes, and these sizes could affect the

time it takes for the rotocopter to reach the ground.

Using the Scientific Method


Rotocopte rs

The purpose of this activity is to determine how one aspect of the rotocopters size affects the time it takes to reach the floor when dropped from a certain height.

Using the Scientific Method


Rotocopte rs
You will work with the others at your table in this activity. 1. Decide on one variable to change. Eg. Blade width, collar width, stem length or stem width. 2. Make two additional rotocopters each slightly different in the one variable you have chosen. (Leave all other variables the same!) 3. Name each model and record how it is unique. (eg. Skinny model: Stem = 2.0 cm wide) 4. Make a hypothesis and record it. 5. Drop each model 10 times from a standard determined height (measure and record the height) and time how long it takes to reach the ground. Record your data in

a data table. 6. Find the average time for each model. 7. Make conclusions about how the variable you chose to change affects the time to drop to the floor.

Using the Scientific Method


Rotocopte rs
Sample Data Table:

Using the Scientific Method


Rotocopte rs
Questions to answer at the end of your lab report: 1. What is the independent variable and what is the dependent variable in your groups experiment? 2. What variables did you keep constant in your experiment? (List at least five.) 3. What changes would you make to your experiment which would improve the accuracy of the results? 4. List any variables that you could not control that might affect your results. (These are called sources of error.) 5. What kind of data (observations) did you collect in this activity?

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