After you've made the paper flying machines, it's time to step it up and make an electric plane that really flies around in a circle. You can suspend this from a string tied to the ceiling or pop it into the eraser top on a wooden pencil. Either way, it's guaranteed to make you and your cat quite dizzy.
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Materials:
Here's what you do:
This is an excellent demonstration of Newton's Third Law: the propeller generates thrust in one direction, sending the airplane in the other. Since the airplane is attached to the long shaft, it's flight is restricted to a tight circle. It's important to be sure to balance the rod on your fingertip before attaching the tack, or it may not be able to correct this imbalance during flight. Give it a try!
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Materials:
- 1 wood pencil with eraser
- AA battery pack
- 3VDC motor
- 5 popsicle sticks
- 2 alligator clip leads
- AA batteries for your battery case (Cheap dollar-store “heavy duty” type are perfect. Do NOT use alkaline batteries like Duracell or Energizer!)
- 1 propeller (rip this off an old toy or hand-held fan or balsa wood airplane)
- 1 tack
Here's what you do:
This is an excellent demonstration of Newton's Third Law: the propeller generates thrust in one direction, sending the airplane in the other. Since the airplane is attached to the long shaft, it's flight is restricted to a tight circle. It's important to be sure to balance the rod on your fingertip before attaching the tack, or it may not be able to correct this imbalance during flight. Give it a try!
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cool!
Thanks for writing! I would recommend those inexpensive motors that are available int he summer as part of a “personal fan” – I got mine for $1 and it comes with motor, batteries, switch, propeller… all in one! Here’s a picture of it: https://bit.ly/37H1SWY You don’t have to but it from this link, just use it to look at so you can find one where you are.
It can be challenging to remove metal gears that come press-fit onto motor shafts. You can make your own propeller from plastic lids from yogurt containers and then glue those onto the gear so you don’t have to remove it first. Does that help?
I do not have a propeller to use with Motor 451324.
Can you please advise on what propeller I should buy? I do not have any toys with propeller that I can use.
Also I am thinking about getting a motor with a gear instead of just a shaft. Can I remove the gear as needed or are those gears permanently attached to the shaft of the motor?
I’d recommend switching the wires on the back of your motor… sounds like the motor’s turning in the wrong direction.
Danger:The propeller goes so fast it can cut your finger,believe me i’ve had experience!!!!!!
p.s.
My airplane flies backwards any ideas why and how to fix it?
cool!!
My staff is contacting you now with a couple of ideas…
I’m having a tough time locating a toy propeller. Any ideas? Thanks!