This activity has students manipulate the variables
of design in an effort to improve the basic design. The activity has been
adapted from The Sky's the Limit.
Materials
Straws, paper (perhaps of different types and weights), tape, tape
measure
Procedure
1. Discuss the four basic variables involved in the loop airplane's
design (size of loops;
materials used to make loops; loops placement; and straw length).
2. Have students hypothesize and experiment with one variable at a
time.
3. Once a satisfactory model has been developed, test for distance
as before, using partners and allowing three trials.
Mathematics Extensions
A. Have students determine the circumference of the circle made by
each loop. Next have them determine the radius of each loop used.
B. Use the measurements recorded to work with scientific notation.
Express the distance in other units without changing the number.
