WHIRLYBIRD ACTIVITY

Pre-thinking Section: Answer the questions- What do you know about whirlybirds? What are
some factors that affect their flight? How can you test your beliefs?
Materials needed:

paper

scissors

ruler

pen/pencil

Question Generation Phase: Look at the materials your table has been given. Generate a list of
questions related to the materials you have. NO QUESTION is unacceptable at this point- just
write as many questions as you can think of!
Reason for the Lab: Using a prior design and altering it to better fit current needs is an
important part of engineering. What can you learn about the existing design of a whirlybird?
How can you alter it so that it meets the criteria you choose?
Selecting a Question: How can a whirlybird be redesigned to make it fall faster to the ground?
Directions- Part A:
1. Pick up lab materials. Create a whirlybird that meets criteria listed on board (a template
might be provided).
2. Draw a picture of this whirlybird on your data sheet. Include the measurements.
3. Record the time it takes for the whirlybird to fall to the ground from a specific height
(one person will need to be the official dropper so the height is consistent).
4. Determine the average time it took the whirlybird to fall to the ground after 10 trials.
Directions- Part B:
5. Discuss with your group your findings. Together, decide how you can redesign the
whirlybird to make it fall faster. Your redesign must still have a general whirly design
(i.e., it must still whirl to the ground when falling).
6. Draw a picture of this new whirlybird on your data sheet. Include the measurements.
7. Record the time it takes for the new whirlybird to fall to the ground from a specific height
(be sure to use the same person as the dropper so the height is consistent).
8. Determine the average time it took the whirlybird to fall to the ground after 10 trials.

WHIRLYBIRD ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

Pre-thinking Section: _____________________________________________________
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Question Generation Section:______________________________________________
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Data- Part A:
Drawing

Data from Trials

Trial #

Time (in sec)

Trial 1:
Trial 2:
Trial 3:
Trial 4:
Trial 5:
Trial 6:
Trial 7:
Trial 8:
Trial 9:
Trial 10:

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AVG:
Data- Part B:
Drawing

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Data from Trials

Trial #

Time (in sec)

Trial 1:
Trial 2:
Trial 3:
Trial 4:
Trial 5:
Trial 6:
Trial 7:
Trial 8:
Trial 9:
Trial 10:

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AVG: __________________

Conclusion:
1. Was your new design successful in increasing the speed of descent? Why or why not?
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2. In at least 4 sentences, describe one other way you might have altered the whirlybird
design and had successful results. What factors caused you to choose the design you
selected?
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3.

Identify your experimental variables and scientific title for the experiment your group is
designing.
IV- ____________________________________________________________________
DV- ___________________________________________________________________
CV- ____________________________________________________________________
CV- ____________________________________________________________________
Title- ___________________________________________________________________
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Whirlybird Template