Hoopster

Summary

Build a simple flying machine from a straw and cardboard, that spins as it flies.

Science content

Physics: Motion and Forces, Newton’s Laws, Gravity (K, 2, 6)

Science competencies (+ questioning + manipulation + others that are in every activity)

Questioning/predicting: predicting (1 up), hypothesizing (7)

Planning/conducting: planning investigations (3 up)

Planning/conducting: fair testing and controlling variables (5 up)

Processing/analyzing: classifying data, finding patterns (1 up)

Processing/analyzing: comparing observations with predictions (1 up)

Evaluating: inferring (3 up)

original hoopster, hoopster with weight and mini hoopster

Lessons activity is in

Newton's Laws

Flying Things

Flight and Newton's Laws

Force stations

Materials

cardstock, letter-sized
tape
straw
optional: paperclips or modelling clay

Procedure

Adapted from the Exploratorium activity: https://annex.exploratorium.edu/science-explorer/hoopster.html

Cut the cardstock lengthwise into strips, each about 5cm wide.
Cut some of the strips into half lengths.

Tape one short piece into a loop. Tape one long piece into a (larger) loop.
Tape the loops onto each end of a straw, lined up with each other.
Throw the hoopster like a spear, with the small hoop in front.

The hoopster often spins as it flies!
Does the hoopster fly with the big loop first?

Play around with variations on the basic hoopster, and compare how they fly (make sure to have several trials with each):
change the number of loops
change the orientation of the loops
change the length of the hoopster by adding straws (push one end into another)
add weight with paper clips or modelling clay
etc. etc

Discussions of the forces involved:
The forward motion is called thrust and is generated by our arm pushing it forward.
The air moving past the loops gives it lift so that it can fly for a while.
Air resistance eventually slows it down and gravity brings it to the ground.

Notes

I have not found an easy explanation of why the hoopster does not fly well with the large hoop first.
Some sources say the large loop at the back creates most drag, and this has to be at the back for the flight to be stable.

Grades taught

Gr 4

Gr 5

Gr 6

Gr 7

Activity