Kids Aviation Science Experiments?

[WTFOVER]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some ideas on aviation related science experiments to do with a class of 5th graders. Here's what Ive got so far:

Hair Dryer and ping pong ball.

Blowing up a ballon and releasing

Air over a dollar bill

And a demonstration of vertigo in a swivel chair.

Any help for better experiments would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Alamanach]

Whether or not extreme dihedral increases the range of a paper airplane. (Does it ever!)

 

[time builder]

You could do a lot with paper airplanes, like wing aspect ratio for instance.

 

[The_Russian]

Big foam airfoil. Big fan. Fun.

 

[woutlaw]

How about the Magnus Effect?

Take a tube from a roll of paper towels, create some large circular end-plates out of a manilla folder or such, wrap a long string around it tightly, pull the string quickly to set the tube rotating quickly and bingo, a levitating cardboard tube.

Here's an interesting page on it: http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/cyl.html

Or check out Skip Smith's "Illustrated Guide to Aerodynamics."

I gave myself a nice paper cut goofing around with this during CFI training, so be careful.

 

[sqwkvfr]

How about differences in air pressure?

Open and then re-seal an empty 2 liter bottle at 10K feet, then another at 8K, another at 6K, etc., and show the differences in inflation on the ground.

 

[Big Duke Six]

You could make a hand-launched helicopter using a small paintbrush handle and an RC airplane propeller. Jam the end of the paintbrush handle (remove the bristles and metal holder) into the prop tightly, initiate the spin using your two palms and watch it fly off. Have a height contest in the gym.

 

[WTFOVER]

All great ideas. Thanks for the help.:beer:

 

[erj-145mech]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some ideas on aviation related science experiments to do with a class of 5th graders.

You made it all the way to the 5th grade? I'm impressed!