Help with a physics competition? Blowing in the wind?

The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.

haha. :) seriously though…any ideas?

“lift” – is it acceptable to shoot it in the air like a projectile?

The easiest way is to tear the smallest piece of paper you can off one corner. It will rise a good distance before it is blown out of the updraught.

Edit: Given the information below, this is obviously not possible. The best way would then to construct a lever powered by a sail to catch the wind from the hair dryer.

So there is no minimum mass? That seems odd…

we have to use the weights provided. the minimum weight is 10 grams!

I’d probably start by using the cups to make a ‘duct’ that redirects the air from horizontal to vertical. The sandwich bags could be adhered to the cups to create an ‘elbow’ in the duct. Make some kind of piston action…

Wait. Maybe I’d duct tape the sandwich bag around the dryer and tape a straw vertically penetrating the bag so that the warm air shoots into the bag, then is forced out the top through a small hole.

yes, it is legalto shoot it in the air like a projectile, as long as nothing is touching the hair dryer. the hair dryer has to stay blowing horizontally though.

So you can’t tape anything to the hair dryer?

nope. :(

but I can tape things on the floor…AROUND the hairdryer. as long as its not touching the dryer.

I can think of two concepts: If you’re allowed to use the heat from thr dryer, build some kind of paper and plastic hot air balloon. If you have to use airflow only, build the most efficient airfoil you can; use the string to tether it like a kite so it won’t be blown backwards (I doubt you’ll get more than a meter of lift anyway).

@stranger_in_a_strange_land how do you think i should make an airfoil that can lift straight off from a horizontal flow of air? just a square piece of paper and, string holding the corners, coming together to hold the weight?

Like a kite. Use the papers, folder, paper plates and bags for the lifting surface; straws for strut bracing; string taped to the floor as a tether. Pipe cleaners or string to attach the mass. You could also use the folder to make girders by cutting strips lengthwise and folding to a triangular cross-section. A kind of wing-shaped kite. Use the cups to make a tube that you can use to redirect the airflow upward once the “kite” starts to rise.

Here you go

Let me know if it works :)

You know it doesn’t say you can’t use materials other than what is supplied….

@lilikoi That was funny.

A little related (wind, plastic, energy), i thought to share this with you.