Ask Ollie
Paper Helicopter Drop Test
Here's one to try together!
Fold, drop and time a spinning paper helicopter, then tweak it to find which design falls slowest!
Reviewed by our team.
Safety first
- scissors are sharp and need care when cutting
- do not climb on furniture to drop from higher; stay standing on the floor
- paper clips are small parts and can be a choking risk for young children
What you need
- Paper, 6 strips, each about the size of a dollar bill
- Kid scissors, 1 pair
- Phone, 1 for the timer
- Notebook, 1 to record results (optional)
- Crayons or markers, 1 to write down times (optional)
- Paper clips, 8
- Ruler, 1 (optional)
How to do it
Grown-up prep: Cut or set out paper strips, and keep paper clips away from any little ones nearby, as they are small parts.
- Cut the top half of a paper strip down the middle.
- Fold one blade forward and the other blade back.
- Fold the bottom in from both sides to make a narrow body.
- Slide a paper clip onto the bottom of the body.
- Hold it up high and let it go. Watch it spin! Ask: What do you think the blades will do as it falls?
- Drop it three times and time each fall.
- Make a new helicopter and change just one thing. Ask: Which change do you think will make it fall slower?
- Time the new helicopter three times and compare.
- Declare a winner, then test another change! Which design will fall slowest of all? Ask: Why do you think the winner fell so slowly?
Play it again
- Target landing: draw a circle on the floor and try to land your helicopter inside it.
- Weight challenge: add one clip at a time and find how many it takes before the helicopter stops spinning.
- Team race: two people drop at the same time and see whose helicopter lands last.
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