You will need scissors, paper, thread, tape, ruler, needle and a pencil. The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate how home air pressure affects a wing. Cut your paper to a size of 6 by 2 inches. Now, fold the paper 3.25 inches from one end. place your pencil at the edge of the longer end and roll up. Tape the ends together so you get a wing shape. It should be flat on the bottom and curved on the top. Thread the needle through the wing about an inch from the end with the pencil in it. Finally, hold both ends and blow on the over the front side of the wing. Record your observations about how lower air pressure causes the thread to rise.
You will need baking soda, vinegar and some photo film canisters. The purpose of this experiment is to create a rocket engine powered by a chemical reaction. Pack the film canister with baking soda. Place 2 tsp. of vinegar and into the film canister. Place the lid back on the canister and place it upside down on the table and wait about 10 seconds. The film canister will rocket into the air. Discuss how the chemical reaction created thrust in your "rocket engine."
This experiment focuses on how the rate of blade rotation affects the vertical motion of a helicopter. For this project you will need a remote-controlled helicopter and a tachometer. There are many models available at toy model stores for around $20. Before performing the actual physical part of the experiment, familiarize yourself with helicopter terms such as airfoil, blade, rotor, angle of attack, lift and revolutions per minute. This information can be found online at most aviation websites, or you see if your library carries a book on helicopter technology. Take your helicopter outside and start your flight. While one person flies the helicopter, the other person uses the tachometer to measure how rotation speed creates lift or descent of the helicopter. Record your findings.
For this project, you will need three Popsicle sticks, adhesive such as glue or sticky tack and three index card pieces, each 8 cm by 4.5 cm. The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate how angle affects lift on a boomerang. Label your Popsicle sticks "A," "B" and "C." Put a drop of glue on one end of each Popsicle stick. Attach the glued end of stick A at a 45-degree angle about one-quarter of the way down from the end of stick B, which has glue side up. Attach stick C so that the glue side attaches to the bottom of stick B. You should end up with a triangular apparatus. Now glue a piece of index card to the end of each stick. Allow it to dry. Throw the boomerang and record your findings on how the angle of throw and angle of wings affects flight.