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Wind resistance experiments for kids {using 3-D shapes}

May 11, 2016 by Katie Leave a Comment

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While learning about the wind during our weather unit, we took the time to conduct some wind resistance experiments in our kitchen. These experiments helped tie together our lessons about the wind with our prior knowledge about 3-D shapes.

You’ll find more resources for learning about weather on Weather Unit Study page my Weather Activities Pinterest board. 

Two awesome wind resistance experiments using 3-D shapes. Kids can make hypotheses, test them out, and record their data to learn how air flow affects various 3-D shapes. I activity this idea for a weather unit when studying the wind! || Gift of Curiosity

To conduct these experiments we gathered the following materials:

  • hairdryer
  • small cube
  • small cylinder
  • large cube
  • large cylinder
  • tape measure
  • tape to mark positions on the counter
  • white board to record our findings

Wind resistance experiments: Using wind to move a 3-D shape

For the first set of experiments, I marked two positions on our kitchen counter: one position for the head of the hair dryer and another position for the small 3-D shape.

We set the hairdryer and 3-D shape in their places, aimed the hairdryer at the 3-D shape, and then turned the hair dryer on “high.”

Two awesome wind resistance experiments using 3-D shapes. Kids can make hypotheses, test them out, and record their data to learn how air flow affects various 3-D shapes. I activity this idea for a weather unit when studying the wind! || Gift of Curiosity

We observed how far the 3-D shape moved, and used a measuring tape to record the distance from the starting point to the ending point. We recorded our findings on a white board, and then repeated the experiment to see if we got similar results.

Two awesome wind resistance experiments using 3-D shapes. Kids can make hypotheses, test them out, and record their data to learn how air flow affects various 3-D shapes. I activity this idea for a weather unit when studying the wind! || Gift of Curiosity

We ended up doing the experiment a total of eight times: twice while blowing air against the flat side of the cube, twice while blowing air against the corner edge of the cube, twice while blowing air against a cylinder standing on its edge, and twice while blowing air against a cylinder laying on its side.

Here were our results:
Two awesome wind resistance experiments using 3-D shapes. Kids can make hypotheses, test them out, and record their data to learn how air flow affects various 3-D shapes. I activity this idea for a weather unit when studying the wind! || Gift of Curiosity

Wind resistance experiments: Using wind to move a 3-D shape blocked by another object

After the first set of experiments, we decided to see how far the cylinder on its side would travel if we blew air toward it while it was blocked by another object.

Two awesome wind resistance experiments using 3-D shapes. Kids can make hypotheses, test them out, and record their data to learn how air flow affects various 3-D shapes. I activity this idea for a weather unit when studying the wind! || Gift of Curiosity

Check out this short 1 min, 20 sec video showing the results of this experiment where we used three different objects to block the air flow to the cylinder.

More weather resources

More weather posts from Gift of Curiosity:

  • Books about the weather
  • Weather 3-part cards
  • DIY weather station
  • Water cycle demonstration
  • Two ways to make a cloud in a jar
  • Cloud classification activities
  • Cloud classification craft
  • Make it rain in a jar
  • DIY weather vane
  • Make a tornado in a bottle
  • How do hurricanes form?
  • Make a hurricane
  • Printable weather Bingo game
  • Printable weather I Spy game


You’ll find more resources for learning about weather on Weather Unit Study page my Weather Activities Pinterest board. 

Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Unit Ideas: Weather on Pinterest.

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