5. Get your stopwatch and volunteer helper ready.

Question

a. One person should be in charge of dropping the whirlybird, and the
other person should use the stopwatch. You will need to start the
stopwatch as soon as the whirlybird is dropped, and stop it as soon
as it hits the ground.
b. You should drop the whirlybird from a high place. If possible, drop it
from a second story window or balcony (but not on a windy day), or
have an adult stand on a chair or ladder. Make sure you drop the
whirlybird from the exact same height each time.

6. Drop the whirlybird and use the stopwatch to time how long it takes to hit
the ground. Record this value in Table 1, in the box for "Trial 1" next to "0"
paper clips.
7. Repeat step 6 two more times for your second and third trials. Record
these values in your data table.
8. Now, add a paper clip to the bottom of your whirlybird, as shown in
Figure 2.
9. Repeat steps 6–7 with one paper clip. Remember to record your results in
your data table, in the row for "1" paper clip.
10. Repeat steps 6–7 for two, three, and four paper clips. Make sure you
record all of your results in the correct row in your data table. You should
have three trials for each number of paper clips.
11. Calculate the average fall time for each number of paper clips. Record this
value in the "Average" column in your data table.
a. you need to add up the values for each trial and then divide by
three. For example, if your fall times for 0 paperclips were 6.0, 5.5,
and 5.9 seconds, the average would be (6.0 + 5.5 + 5.9) ÷ 3 = 5.8
seconds.

10. Make a line graph with the number of paper clips on the x-axis (horizontal
line) and the fall time in seconds on the y-axis (vertical line). Ask an adult
or use the Create a Graph website if you need help making a graph.
11. Analyze your results. Did the whirlybird fall faster, slower, or stay the same
as you added more paper clips? Is this what you thought would happen?
write it in your own word but not too long

Answer 1

To conduct the experiment, first, set up a team: one person will drop the whirlybird and the other will use the stopwatch. Ensure you drop the whirlybird from a consistent height, ideally from a second-story window or a high place, on a calm day.

1. Drop the whirlybird and start the stopwatch immediately until it touches the ground. Record the time for "Trial 1" with no paper clips in Table 1.
2. Perform two additional trials for the zero paper clip condition and note those times.
3. Then, attach one paper clip to the whirlybird, and repeat the dropping process, recording your results in the appropriate row for "1" paper clip.
4. Continue this process by adding two, three, and finally four paper clips, ensuring you conduct three trials for each amount and keep accurate records.

After collecting all the data, calculate the average fall time for each set of trials by summing the times and dividing by three. Record these averages in the data table.

Finally, create a line graph with the number of paper clips on the x-axis and fall time in seconds on the y-axis. Analyze your results: consider whether the whirlybird fell faster, slower, or at the same rate as more paper clips were added. Reflect on whether this outcome matched your expectations.