Full science inquiry involves asking a simple question, completing an investigation, answering the question, and presenting the results to others. Experiments are guided by concepts and are performed to test ideas.

Challenge

Set up an experiment to test this question:

Which wing design gives the greatest lift and, thereby, allows the airplane to go the greatest distance?

Procedure

Write your question, hypothesis, procedure, and materials list on a sheet of paper. Remember that the constructed model planes should be identical (e.g., length, weight) except for one variable -- wing shape.

Follow your procedures to test the hypothesis by taping off a long-distance course with markings indicating each meter. Toss each plane three times, record the distance, and then compute the average distance. State your conclusion.

Back to Learning Resources