in Airplanes & Space

Rubber Band Helicopter: A Fun Science Project

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Have you ever wanted to build your own rubber band helicopter? With a little bit of research and some great instructions, you can easily make your own rubber band helicopter at home. This is a great way to learn about inertia, energy, lift, and drag, and it's also a lot of fun!

What You'll Need

  • 2 rubber bands
  • 1 paper clip
  • 1 straw
  • 1 pair of scissors
  • 1 ruler

Instructions

  1. Cut the straw in half.
  2. Fold one end of each rubber band in half.
  3. Attach the folded ends of the rubber bands to the paper clip.
  4. Slide the straw through the paper clip.
  5. Twist the rubber bands around the straw.
  6. Hold the helicopter by the straw and let it go.

How It Works

When you twist the rubber bands, you are storing energy in them. When you let go of the helicopter, the energy in the rubber bands is released and the helicopter starts to spin. The spinning of the helicopter creates lift, which is what keeps it in the air. The drag of the air slows the helicopter down, but the lift keeps it from falling.

Troubleshooting

  • If your helicopter doesn't fly, make sure that the rubber bands are twisted tightly enough.
  • Make sure that the straw is straight.
  • Make sure that the paper clip is attached securely to the rubber bands.

Tips

  • You can make your helicopter fly higher by twisting the rubber bands more tightly.
  • You can make your helicopter fly longer by using longer rubber bands.
  • You can make your helicopter more stable by adding a tail.

Conclusion

Building a rubber band helicopter is a great way to learn about inertia, energy, lift, and drag. It's also a lot of fun! So what are you waiting for? Get started today!