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Book 23, Question 84 · Video

How Do the Spinning Blades of a Helicopter Make Lift?

Video · 1:49 · Crafty Clover explains, from A Million Whys Book 23

A helicopter has spinning blades. They do not push it like a fan. They are tiny wings! Helicopter blades are called rotors. They often bend slightly in flight.

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What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How do the spinning blades of a helicopter make lift?

The Big Idea

A helicopter has spinning blades. They do not push it like a fan. They are tiny wings!

Blades Like Wings

Step one: blades like wings. Each helicopter blade is shaped like a long, thin wing. When the blades whirl around, air flows over them.

Air Makes Lift

Step two: air makes lift. The blades make lift, the same way a plane's wings do. The helicopter rises into the sky.

Tilt the Blades

Step three: tilt the blades. By tilting all the blades together, the pilot changes the amount of lift. More tilt means more lift and the helicopter rises. Less tilt lets it come down gently.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The blades spin. Air flows over them. Lift pulls up. Tilt changes the lift.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Helicopter blades are called rotors. They often bend slightly in flight. Tilting all the blades changes the lift. More tilt gives more lift.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, cut a paper spinner with two angled wings. Drop it and watch it twirl down. The wings act like rotors. Try different wing sizes. Tell a grown-up what you discover!

Outro

Helicopter blades are long, thin wings that make lift as they spin, and tilting them changes the lift. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! There is always more to discover, and you are a great science explorer! So the next time you wonder about this, you will know just where to start looking. Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!

Why I wrote this