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Science Investigation Process

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Science Investigation Process

Aotearoa’s Junior Science Expo needs a fair test about paper helicopters. Read the evidence, then use the investigation process to plan, interpret and share your ideas. A hypothesis is a testable prediction with a reason.

The helicopter test

Mere and Nikau made paper helicopters. They wanted to find out whether wing length affects how long a helicopter takes to reach the floor. They cut one helicopter with 4 cm wings and another with 8 cm wings from the same kind of paper. They dropped each from the same height, indoors, and timed each fall three times. They changed only wing length. The average time was 1.2 seconds for the 4 cm wings and 1.8 seconds for the 8 cm wings. They wrote down every result, including one drop that spun sideways. Their prediction was that the longer wings would fall more slowly because they catch more air.

1.What question were Mere and Nikau investigating? Choose the best scientific question.

Which paper helicopter looks nicest?
Does wing length affect the time a paper helicopter takes to fall?
Can a paper helicopter fly outside in the wind?
Who can make the biggest helicopter?

2.Which statement is their hypothesis?

The longer-wing helicopter will take longer to fall because its wings catch more air.
The 8 cm helicopter took an average of 1.8 seconds.
They used the same kind of paper.
The helicopter spun sideways once.

3.Identify the variable they changed, the result they measured, and one thing they kept the same.

4.Why did they repeat each drop three times and calculate an average?

5.The 8 cm helicopter took longer to fall on average. Does this support their hypothesis? Explain using evidence from the test.

6.True or false: Because one helicopter spun sideways, Mere and Nikau should leave that result out of their records.

TrueFalse

7.Put these investigation actions in a sensible order by writing 1–4 beside each: ___ share the conclusion; ___ ask a testable question; ___ collect and record results; ___ make a hypothesis.

Expo planning station

Your team can investigate a new question: Does the surface a paper helicopter lands on affect how far it slides? Plan a fair test before collecting any data.

8.Write a hypothesis for the landing-surface question. Include a prediction and a reason.

9.Give one thing to change, one thing to measure, and two things to keep the same in this investigation.

10.The team tests carpet, tile and smooth wood. Name one way to make the results more reliable, and say what information the team should record.

11.Why should the team share its method and results at the Expo, even if the results do not match its hypothesis?

3 printable pages

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Page 3

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More Science Worksheets

Year 5

Science Investigation Process

Science Investigation Process

The helicopter test

Expo planning station

3 printable pages

About This Worksheet

Free in Kuraplan

Print-Ready

AI-Generated

For Teachers & Parents

Need a custom version of this worksheet?

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