Air Resistance, Airflow, Lift Force
I think Felix is not yet entirely sure if he really knows how lift is generated on the wings. How about you?
I think we should try to observe airflow at home and thus get to the bottom of the mystery of flight.
Let’s start with small experiments. In the instructions below, we will show you the experiment step by step.
CAUTION! Never use a hairdryer near water! This applies to the power cord and the hairdryer itself. DANGER TO LIFE!
If you can set your hairdryer to a cool setting, please use it.
Here you can view and print the experiment instructions. You can record your observations in the worksheet.
Task:
Carry out this series of experiments. If you feel like it and have time, you can also carry out the additional experiment. Then answer the questions on the worksheet with the help of your observations. Think about whether you can already come up with a reason for your observations. (Caution: in this mission, you only need to fill out the first half (Experiment 1) on the worksheet. Experiments 2 & 3 will follow in Mission 2.)
Want more? You can of course also repeat the experiment with some changes and see if your results are different then. Here are a few ideas to test:
– use different sized sheets of paper,
– test paper with different weights,
– crumple the paper with different degrees of force.
What conclusion do you reach? Share your observations in the Community and compare them with those of others.