RIC-3531 Primary Science - Book D (Digital)

A Whirligig
Flight – Activity 3
Lesson Focus
Outcomes
Energy and change
2.5 Describes properties of
light, sound, heating and
movement.
Indicators
• Makes predictions about
flight patterns of the
whirligig.
• Constructs and throws a
whirligig.
Skills Focus
• Predicts
• Observes
• Draws conclusions
• Conducts simple tests
Background Information
Four basic forces are involved
in flight – gravity, lift, drag and
thrust. Thrust is created by
a plane’s propellers or its jet
engines. Drag is the natural
force of air resistance against
the plane’s forward movement.
Lift is created by the plane’s
wings as they move through
the air and gravity is a natural
force that pushes the plane
towards the ground. Gravity
and lift are opposite forces, as
are drag and thrust.
The ‘whirliggig’ flies through
the air because of the force
used when it is thrown. It spins
and cuts through the air in
the same way as a propeller.
It works best when held by
the end of one of the blades
or wings with the thumb and
index finger.
Keep the whirly-gig vertical
and flick forward and upward
to start a spinning action. It
should return in a semicircle
and come back to the place it
was thrown from. It may take
several practices to get the
correct thrust to make it return.
Safety Warning
Do not aim flying objects at
any person.
Always test flying objects in
safe conditions and areas.
Fly them away from people
or windy conditions.
Before the Lesson
Materials Needed
Stiff card (e.g. cereal packs – other materials such as cardboard, styrofoam or
balsa can also be used), whirligig template (page 81), scissors.
Preparation
• Have templates already made in thick card for students to trace around.
• Make a model whirligig and practise throwing it to demonstrate and discuss
results.
• Students will need a large area like a gymnasium, an undercover assembly area or
oval to practise throwing their whirligig (little wind).
• Have a collection of pictures of aircraft with propellers or rotor blades on display
(as in gyrocopter activity).
The Lesson
Stimulus
• Discuss pictures where aircraft use propellers or rotor blades.
What to Do
• Students trace around a whirligig template onto card.
(See ‘Appendix 1’ on page 81.)
• They carefully cut around the shape so the edges are smooth.
• Students can colour it brightly and add their names.
• Ask students to predict what they think will happen when the whirligig is thrown.
• Demonstrate how to hold and throw the whirligig for students by holding one
blade vertically and flicking it forward and upward.
• Students will need to practise to get the correct amount of thrust to make the
whirligig circle and come back like a boomerang. (Students will need a large area
to practise—preferably indoors without wind.)
• Students record what they have found about their whirligig.
• Try throwing the whirligig horizontally. What happens?
• What could be changed to make it better? Allow students to experiment and
record results.
• Talk about the performances of the whirligigs.
• Ask who can throw and catch their whirligig. Give each throwing technique a
rating.
After the Lesson
Answers
Teacher check
Additional Activities
• Make a frisbee using an aluminium pie plate and modelling clay. Turn the plate
upside down and try to fly it. What happens? Add small amounts of modelling clay
evenly spaced around the outside edge of the dish. Using a backhand toss, try to
fly it again. Is it better with or without the weights? Try different types of plates
or alter the weights used. What differences can you notice? Record results and
compare with others in the class. Hold a competition for the longest flying pie
plate design.
• Make small finger boomerangs (from stiff card) that can be launched off a slightly
tilted book with the flick of a finger. Strike the boomerang so that it spins off
the book rapidly. The boomerang should fly straight out, turn and come back. If
needed, give one edge of each wing a slight bend upward like a forward flap.
Display Ideas
• Research and display pictures and reports showing the uses and
types of boomerangs. Do they all return?
76 PRIMARY SCIENCE ~ R.I.C. Publications ® ~ www.ricpublications.com.au
ISBN 978-1-925660-54-8
©R.I.C. Publications
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