Whirly Bird Lab
Eric Setka & Travis Carlson
In our results we found that the whirlybird with the office clip has a higher
velocity than the one with the paperclip. The whirlybird with the office clip
fell over 2x faster than the whirlybird with the paperclip. The office clip
whirlybird had an average velocity of 171cm/s. The paperclip fell at an average
of 360 cm/s.
Physics w/ David Heerschap
Sept. 21, 2011
Whirlybird Lab
Purpose
To measure vertical velocity (fall rate) of two unique Whirlybirds.
Materials
Paper, Paperclip, scissors, office clip, stopwatch.
Procedure
1. Build 2 identical whirlybirds, one with an Office Clip, one with a
Paperclip.
2. Drop each whirlybird from 246cm and record the time it takes them to hit
the ground.
3. Find the average velocity of the two whirlybirds.
Data & Results
1. Clockwise, it is a consistent rotation unless you switch the folds in the
wings.
2. If you fold the wings the opposite direction, it will spin the other way.
3. The two rates observed in this lab were height and speed.
4. We had success at changing the vertical speed when we changed the little
paperclip, to a bigger, more massive office clip.
5. We observed that the rotational speed was faster and lasted longer with
the paperclip, because it gently goes down, unlike the office clip which drops
the whirlybird with a lead weight
6. The whirlybird reminds us of a leaf falling, it doesn’t just drop down, it
floats down and sometimes does a couple of turns. It also reminds us of a
helicopter, because of its big spinning blades.
7. We learned that items fly better when they’re a light weigth.
In our results we found that the whirlybird with the office clip has a higher
velocity than the one with the paperclip. The whirlybird with the office clip
fell over 2x faster than the whirlybird with the paperclip. The office clip
whirlybird had an average velocity of 171cm/s. The paperclip fell at an average
of 360 cm/s.
Physics w/ David Heerschap
Sept. 21, 2011
Whirlybird Lab
Purpose
To measure vertical velocity (fall rate) of two unique Whirlybirds.
Materials
Paper, Paperclip, scissors, office clip, stopwatch.
Procedure
1. Build 2 identical whirlybirds, one with an Office Clip, one with a
Paperclip.
2. Drop each whirlybird from 246cm and record the time it takes them to hit
the ground.
3. Find the average velocity of the two whirlybirds.
Data & Results
1. Clockwise, it is a consistent rotation unless you switch the folds in the
wings.
2. If you fold the wings the opposite direction, it will spin the other way.
3. The two rates observed in this lab were height and speed.
4. We had success at changing the vertical speed when we changed the little
paperclip, to a bigger, more massive office clip.
5. We observed that the rotational speed was faster and lasted longer with
the paperclip, because it gently goes down, unlike the office clip which drops
the whirlybird with a lead weight
6. The whirlybird reminds us of a leaf falling, it doesn’t just drop down, it
floats down and sometimes does a couple of turns. It also reminds us of a
helicopter, because of its big spinning blades.
7. We learned that items fly better when they’re a light weigth.