PROJECT: DESIGN OF EXPERIMENT (DOE)
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Gravity is the force pulling the paper helicopter to the ground. As the helicopter drops,
the air pushes up against the blades, causing them to rotate. In doing so they create lift which
helps to keep the helicopter in the air. The direction the blades are bent in will affect whether it
spins clockwise or anti-clockwise. Adding more weight (paperclips) will make the helicopter fall
faster
Consider the following questions when doing this activity with young people. Why is the
helicopter spinning?
The spinning is caused by the force of air acting on each of the helicopter’s blades. The
air presses on each of the blades with an equal force but in the opposite direction and the
helicopter spins around.
What happens if you add another paperclip to the bottom of your spinner?
More paperclips mean more weight! The heavier your helicopter is, the faster it will drop
to the floor and as the forces of air act on it, it will spin even quicker!
What happens if you change the direction that the blades are folded in? · When you change the
