Catapult helicopter
... and more: Soft landing without an engine?
When your catapult-helicopter out of the explore sequence falls to the ground, it turns. This phenomena on a helicopter is called "autorotation".
1.1 Task:
Make a research on the topic, explain what happens and take a look at the links below to find some of its uses.
Sources:
Wikipedia: Autorotation
Youtube: Klemens Koza; Autorotation nach Motorausfall (Listen to the sound 30 sec. into the video!)
Youtube: Bayer MaterialScience; K2013 - Speed Talk - Adrienne Finzsch - Emergency Airdrop (engl.)
... and more: How does the helicopter twist?
The word helicopter is made out of two ancient Greek words, "helix" (spiral) and "pterón" (wing). The catapult-helicopter that you built in the explore sequence twists as it falls back down. Helicopters use the same phenomena to fly.
1.2 Task:
Try to find out how a helicopter flies. Take notes and draw some sketches about your researches. Compare a helicopter and your catapult-helicopter. What similarities and differences do you notice?
Sources:
The following links will help you with your research about the functioning of a helicopter:
Museoscienza.org: The history of the helicopter from precursors to industrialization
Youtube: Largest Dams; Helicopter History
Here's another link for the ones who want to know exactly how a helicopter works. This text is demanding:
Start-flying.com: how helicopters work
More than 500 years ago, Leonardo Da Vinci already had the idea of a giant screw that could push the air down to lift itself. His device can also help you understand how a helicopter operates.
1.3 Task:
Make an internet search under the keywords „Da Vinci“ and „airscrew“.
... and more: Can we twist ourselves up in the air?
Your catapult-helicopter from the "invent sequence" twists from in the air downwards. Well positioned wings could also make it twist upwards, like a helicopter. A part from the helicopter, the gyrocopter, also called autogyro, uses the same technic.
1.4 Task:
Find out how a gyrocopter (also called gyroplane or autogyro) functions. What is the difference between that and a helicopter?
Sources:
Wikipedia: Autogyro
Fr.slideshare.net: Gyrocopter an introduction
