Investigation Skills Activity for KS3 Science

1. Helicopter
Investigation

2. Have a look at
a helicopter. ?
Work out how
to make one.
(5 minutes)

3. How to drop a Helicopter
Get ready!

4. Start the clock
when the
Dropper lets go.
Stop the clock when
the helicopter hits
the floor.

5. Don’t throw the
helicopter – just
let it fall.
If it bumps into
you on the way
down, do that
reading again.

6. What variables
might affect the
time it takes to
fall?

7. The thing we change is called the
independent variable.

8. The thing we measure is called
the dependent variable.

9. I’ve got a
MuDdy CHIN!
we Measure the
Dependent variable
we CHange the
INdependent variable

10. Forces
What force is
pulling the
helicopter down?
What force is
stopping it from
dropping like a
stone?

11. The helicopters don’t
take very long to fall –
just a couple of
seconds.
How can we get
more accurate
times?

12. Carrying out the investigation
• Make a helicopter.
• Drop it, time it and write down
the reading. Take three
readings.
• Cut 1cm off each wing.
• Do another three readings.
• Cut off another 1cm.
• Carry on until you run out of
wings!