Farfetched Flying Gliders

How far can your glider fly?

The third challenge as part of our STEM series with Outdoor Ted, via their new initiative, ‘Indoor Ted’, aimed at inspiring children and families to take on fun and educational tasks at home during this unprecedented time. This week we also have the ‘farfetched flying gliders’ challenge, we look forward to seeing your creations on social!

What you need:

· Thin card (large cereal box is useful), or empty plastic drinks bottles

· Scissors

· Sticky tape

· Ruler

· Pen, pencil or marker pen (if using plastic bottle)

· Straws or wooden kebab sticks (or improvise with whatever you have!)

Be careful of:

· Sharp edges on cut plastic bottle

· Use scissors carefully, be aware of sharp cut edges and ask an adult for help

· Remove or cover any sharp ends if using kebab sticks or similar

· Make sure your glider shall land safely in your home or garden

Instructions:

1. Look at the pictures of the example gliders

2. Cut 2 narrow strips of card, one longer than the other

3. Use sticky tape to turn each one into a hoop.

OR — cut 2 narrow hoops of plastic from plastic bottles, one smaller than the other.

4. Join your hoops together using straws, kebab sticks, or anything similar.

The science:

· There are 4 forces acting on the glider. These are gravity, lift, thrust and drag.

· When you throw the glider, you provide thrust, or forward force.

· The curved surface of the hoops provides lift.

· The larger hoop at the bag creates more drag than the smaller hoop.

The challenge:

· Throw your glider, with the smaller hoop at the front.

· How far can your glider fly? Hold a competition with other people in your house and see who can throw the furthest.

· How big can you make a glider?

· Try experimenting with your design and post a picture of your most successful glider!