T.

Rob M2 EP Science ‘22-’23

Nickname:
Number:

The Scientific Method Lab

Introduction: The scientific method is a great step-by-step guide for young scientists,
and today you will be a young scientist! Here are the six steps again in case you forgot:

1. Make an observation and ask a question.

2. Research.
3. Make a hypothesis.
4. Experiment.
5. Analyze the data.
6. Make conclusions and communicate.

In groups of 4-5 you and your friends will use these steps to try to answer a question
about helicopters. Let’s science!

1. Make an Observation and Ask a Question

Your team has been selected to try to come up with a prototype for a new style of
parachute! In this design, the parachute is not a giant sheet…it instead has blades like a
helicopter that extend out and slow the jumper’s fall. The main problem is how long
should the blades be? Specifically in this lab, we want to answer the question:

What is the effect of the length of the blades on the speed that the jumper falls?
T. Rob M2 EP Science ‘22-’23

2. Research

Before you make your hypothesis, you’ve asked some experts in the field about their
thoughts on the problem. They’ve given you a research paper about “air resistance.”
Read through the paper with your team and answer the following questions.

1. What is air resistance?

Air resistance is kind of friction that occurs

between and air Air resistance will

you
↳

be higher it it have larger surface

2. What two things affect air resistance?

#hat
"

serf ace head 1- ward the motion of that object

1. ___________________________________________________________________

speed of object
2. ___________________________________________________________________

3. Hypothesis

Now that you’ve done your research, try to come up with a good hypothesis.

longer
If the blades of the parachute are ____________________, then the jumper
will fall more slowly.

4. Experiment

In the experiment, you will cut out different lengths of blades using a “patented”
helicopter prototype. Your team will test the falling speeds of 4 different blade lengths,
starting from Length 1 and ending with Length 4. Instructions for the experiment will
start on the next page.
T. Rob M2 EP Science ‘22-’23

Procedure:

1. Be sure you only cut along the SOLID lines, never cut along the dotted lines.
You will be using the same helicopter model for all four wing lengths, so be
sure you leave all four length sections of your helicopter model intact.
2. Prepare your helicopter by cutting around the outside edges of your helicopter
model.
(See figure 1)
3. Cut down Line A, but be sure to stop when you get to the dotted line.
(See figure 2)
4. Cut lines B and C, but be sure to stop when you get to the dotted line.
(See figure 3)
5. Fold the bottom section up so that the words are on the inside, and then fold
the left and right sections so that the words are on the inside.
(See Figure 4)
6. Place a paperclip on the bottom of the helicopter to increase the mass.
(See Figure 5)
7. Fold the shaded section of the wings on the dotted line toward you and fold the
unshaded section of the wings on the dotted line away from you.
(See Figure 6)
8. One member of the group should stand in the chair and hold on to the
helicopter by the paperclip.
9. Drop the helicopter from a height of 2 meters. Do not throw the helicopter, just
release it. When you drop the helicopter, start the stopwatch. Stop the
stopwatch when the helicopter hits the ground.
10.Use your Data Sheet to record the number of seconds it takes for the helicopter
to reach the floor (descent time).
11.Complete three trials at Length 1, and record your data each time.
12.Calculate the average descent time for Length 1.
13.Cut off the end of each wing at the next line (Length 2).
14.Repeat steps 8-13 for Lengths 2, 3 and 4.
15.Graph your average data (be sure to label each axis, use a consistent interval,
and title your graph)
T. Rob M2 EP Science ‘22-’23

5. Analyze Data

0.91 0.99 1.10 I

0.75 0.80 0.73

f. 76

0.7 0.61 0.79 0.685

0.550 -430.49 Oga

T. Rob M2 EP Science ‘22-’23

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T. Rob M2 EP Science ‘22-’23

6. Make Conclusions and Communicate

1. What happened to the descent time as the blade lengths got shorter?

The blade length will be shorter too .

2. What were the independent and dependent variables in this experiment?

Independent Variable -

lenght of blade
___________________________________________________________________

Dependent Variable -

time of descent
___________________________________________________________________

3. Was your hypothesis correct?

Yes it correct
✗
4. Were there any issues with your data or experimental process? If so, what
happened?

yes , many time that mini helicopter

fell to the table so we need to try it again

5. What could be a follow-up experiment to this one if you were really working to
make a prototype parachute with helicopter-type blades?

we use difference material but

kept same length,