pdf, 1.93 MB
pdf, 1.93 MB

Middle School Rotary Wing Physics Lab: 3-page STEM activity on unpowered autorotation, blade pitch angles, terminal velocity, & descent velocity math.

Explore rotary wing aerodynamics, unpowered autorotation mechanics, blade pitch angles, upward lift force generation, air resistance drag, and terminal velocity! The Helicopter Autorotation Blade Pitch STEM Lab (AERO03) challenges middle school student teams to act as rotary wing test engineers, designing and tuning passive paper helicopter rotors to achieve maximum air time and safe emergency landing speeds.

Students explore rotor blade pitch, rotational torque, lift generation, terminal velocity, and velocity reduction math!

What Is Included in This 3-Page Packet?

Page 1: Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan: NGSS alignment (MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3), target science concepts, drop height setup guide, expected student outcomes, answer keys, and pitch angle folding tips.

Page 2: Student Mission Card & Blueprint: Real-world emergency supply drop and unpowered helicopter autorotation scenario hook, clear material limits box (paper templates, paper clips, ruler, protractor, scissors, tape, stopwatch), and a dedicated Rotary Wing Autorotation Force Schematic sketching zone.

Page 3: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection: Structured Data Testing Table (track pitch angle in degrees, ballast clips, drop height in meters, air time in seconds, velocity in m/s, and flight notes), Applied Math Connection (calculate Average Descent Velocity in m/s and Velocity Reduction Efficiency), and physics reflection questions.

Core STEM Skills Covered:

Rotary Wing Aerodynamics & Passive Autorotation Physics

Blade Pitch Angle Geometry & Lift Force Vector Optimization

Terminal Velocity & Drag Resistance Mechanics

Data Logging, Precision Timing, and Velocity Calculations

Why Teachers Love This Resource:

3-Page Professional Layout: Includes a complete Teacher Guide for seamless prep, keeping student lab sheets clean and ready to print!

Low-Cost Materials: Uses simple paper templates, paper clips, protractors, rulers, and timers.

High-Impact Flight Physics Lab: Turns simple paper whirlybirds into a rigorous, quantitative study of rotary aerodynamic forces!

Print-Ready: High-resolution, 3-page PDF format ready for instant printing.

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A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

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Aerospace Flight Physics Bundle AERO01-AERO05

Aerospace & Flight Physics STEM Lab Bundle: 5 middle school physical science labs (15 pages) on paper gliders, rockets, autorotation, trajectories, & CG. Take middle school physical science units to new heights with the complete Aerospace & Flight Physics STEM Lab Bundle (AERO01–AERO05)! Designed specifically for Grades 6–8, this comprehensive 15-page bundle delivers 5 hands-on aeronautical and rocketry labs that connect wing geometry, action-reaction thrust, autorotation, projectile trajectories, and center of gravity pitch trim to real-world flight engineering challenges. Each challenge follows our signature clean 3-page packet format: Page 1 Teacher Guide, Page 2 Student Mission Blueprint, and Page 3 Data Testing Log & Applied Math. What Is Included in This 5-Lab Bundle (15 Pages Total)? AERO01: Paper Airplane Wing Lift & Aspect Ratio Lab — Bernoulli's principle, aspect ratio geometry, wing surface area, center of gravity balance, lift-to-drag ratios, and flight velocity math. AERO02: Water Bottle Rocket Thrust & Fuel Mass Lab — Newton's Third Law of Motion, action-reaction force pairs, pressure thrust, liquid reaction mass, propellant volume fractions, and apogee math. AERO03: Helicopter Autorotation & Blade Pitch Lab — Rotary wing aerodynamics, passive unpowered autorotation, blade pitch angles, drag resistance, terminal velocity, and descent speed math. AERO04: Compressed Air Rocket Launch Angle & Trajectory Lab — Projectile motion, parabolic trajectories, launch elevation angles (15 to 75 degrees), horizontal velocity vs. gravity, air drag, and range math. AERO05: Glider Center of Gravity & Pitch Trim Lab — Center of gravity vs. center of lift, pitch torque equilibrium, elevator trim tabs, aerodynamic stalling, chord percentages, and glide ratios. Core STEM Concepts & Applied Math Covered: Aerodynamic Forces: Lift, Drag, Thrust, Weight, and Pitch Control Aspect Ratio Geometry, Propellant Volume Fractions, and Velocity Math Newton's Third Law of Motion & Action-Reaction Momentum Pairs Unpowered Autorotation Mechanics & Terminal Velocity Reduction Parabolic Trajectories, Launch Angles, and Longitudinal Stability Equations Why Teachers Love This Bundle: Plug-and-Play Uniformity: Every packet features a standard, clean layout that students can navigate independently, freeing you to facilitate flight runways! Low-Cost Materials: Built entirely around everyday budget-friendly supplies (printer paper, paper clips, 2L soda bottles, water, paper templates, cardstock, clay, and balsa/foam gliders). Print-Ready: High-resolution PDF files (15 Total Pages).

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