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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