Quick answer: The scientific method is a series of steps for testing ideas: ask a question, make a hypothesis, plan a fair test, collect data, analyse it and draw a conclusion. This grade 6 science lab on scientific method gives the aim, the equipment, the safety points, a step-by-step method, sample results and 8 analysis questions; the answers are on a separate page and the lab sheet is a free printable PDF.
Does the length of the wings change how a paper helicopter falls? In this lab you run a fair test, repeat each measurement three times, calculate means and draw a graph to support a conclusion.
Level: Grade 6 science (Year 7 · Class 6) · Curriculum: SEP 3-4
Aim
To find out whether the length of the wings of a paper helicopter changes how long it takes to fall 2.0 m.
Equipment
- Paper cut into identical strips (same paper type and width)
- Scissors, ruler and paper clips of the same size
- Stopwatch
- Metre rule or tape fixed to a wall
- Pencil and notebook
Safety
Scissors are sharp: cut away from your body. Do not stand on a chair to drop the helicopter; use a marked height on a wall that you can reach safely, or ask an adult to hold a ladder.
Method
- Make four helicopters with wing lengths of 4 cm, 6 cm, 8 cm and 10 cm. Fold the wings in opposite directions and add one paper clip to the bottom.
- Mark a height of 2.0 m on the wall.
- Drop the first helicopter from the mark and time it to the floor. Repeat three times.
- Repeat for each wing length. Keep everything else the same.
- Calculate the mean time for each wing length.
Results
| Wing length (cm) | Trial 1 (s) | Trial 2 (s) | Trial 3 (s) | Mean (s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.53 |
| 6 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.93 |
| 8 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.40 |
| 10 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.80 |
Analysis questions
Question 1 Variables
1. Name the independent variable, the dependent variable and three controlled variables.Question 2 Check a mean
1. Show how the mean for 6 cm wings was calculated.Question 3 Draw the chart
1. Describe how to draw a bar chart or line graph for the mean times. Say what goes on each axis and a suitable scale.Question 4 Pattern
1. Describe the pattern shown by the means.Question 5 Hypothesis
1. Write a hypothesis that this lab could test and say whether the results support it.Question 6 Reliability
1. Explain why three trials were made. Which wing length has the biggest range in its trials?Question 7 Prediction
1. Use the pattern to predict the time for 12 cm wings and say how confident you are.Question 8 Improve the lab
1. Suggest two improvements that would make the results more accurate.
