This document describes an activity using a "Twisty T" paper flyer to demonstrate how forces allow for flight. The activity instructs students to cut and fold a paper figure into the shape of a "T" and toss it into the air. When tossed, the Twisty T wobbles upward due to torque (twisting), stops, and begins spiraling down slowly due to the opposing forces of gravity and lift. Students observe that gravity pulls down while the twisting torque creates lift by moving air faster over the top wing. The conclusion is that nothing moves without forces, forces always come in pairs with an opposing force, and under the right conditions, the force of lift allows an object to fly.

1. TWISTY T - FLIGHT
by Ms. Engelhard
December 15, 2009

2. TO EXPLORE HOW
FORCES ALLOW

3. YOU’VE DISCOVERED THAT
NOTHING MOVES WITHOUT
FORCES.

4. BUT HOW DO FORCES
HELP THINGS FLY?

5. THIS ACTIVITY PROVIDES AN
ANSWER WITH A “TWIST!”

6. Materials
Twisty T worksheet
Scissors

7. Step 1
Remove the “Twisty T” page from the back of your
work text.
Cut out the Twisty T flyer using the solid blue lines.
(Do not cut any red lines. Red lines are for folding
only!)

8. Step 2
Carefully cut along the dotted blue lines (A, B, C).
Cut only as far as the lines go!
Now fold along line D one way, and along line E the
other.
If you look at your Twisty T from the side, it should
now look like the letter T.

9. Step 3
Fold in the sides at lines F and G so your Twisty T has a
smaller shaft.
Now fold the bottom up at the line H to make a tab at
the bottom.
(Make sure the wings are tipped up slightly.)
Now examine your Twisty T and make notes about
what you see.

10. Step 4
Here comes the fun part.
Toss your Twisty T into the air.
It should wobble skyward, stop, and begin spinning to
the ground in a graceful spiral.
Now carefully review each step in this activity.
Share and compare observations with your research
team.

11. Rules about Force
Forces always work in
pairs.
Every force has an
opposing force.

12. In Your Experiment
Gravity was the first
force that pulled down.
The twisting (torquing)
was the opposing force.
Gravity vs. Torque

13. What Did Torque Do?
The torquing created
lift.
Lift is caused by air
moving faster over the
top of the surface than
it does the bottom.

14. Helicopters
The Twisty T is like the wings.

15. Gravity vs. Lift
Gravity pulls all things
down.
Lift is necessary for
flight.
What happens if
gravity is stronger?

16. Longer Flights
Helicopters use a
motor to stay up longer.
How could your Twisty
T stay up longer?

17. Conclusion
Nothing moves without the influence of a force.
Forces come in pairs, and every force has an opposing
force.
Under controlled circumstances, the force of lift can
allow an object to fly.

18. James 4:7
Submit yourselves
therefore to God. Resist
the devil, and he will flee
from you.