A Hummingbird Compared to a Helicopter

SCIENCE CONCEPT:

The most unique variation in flight belong to the hummingbird. Their wings sweep back and forth, pushing the air downward instead of backward. They fly like the helicopter.

STUDENT OBJECTIVE:

The student will compare the hummingbird to the helicopter, noting the similarities between the two of them in how they fly.

OVERVIEW:

In this activity, the student will first compile a list of similarities between the hummingbird and helicopter. They will also include information about the speed, direction of flight, flight patterns, and pictures of both the hummingbird and helicopter. From these exercises the student will gain insight in how man has gleaned information from the hummingbird in designing the helicopter. As an added assignment the students will be encouraged to design and draw a new helicopter.

PREPARATION TIME:

25 minutes.

LESSON TIME:

45 minutes.

TEACHER PREP:

Gather several books from the library on hummingbirds and helicopters to be used by the students. Pick out books that include photographs.

WORDS TO KNOW:

rotor

upright

horizontal

up stroke

down

stoke

torpid

twist

conserve

mechanism

drag

high-octane

functions

TEACHER TEXT:

The hummingbird has the most unique variation in flight. It can hover for long periods of time. Because of their size, the hummingbird's flight techniques are more like those of insects than birds. Their bodies are held upright, rather than horizontal. This means their wings do not move up and down, but sweep back and forth, pushing the air downward instead of backward. Each time the wing changes direction, they also twist 90 degrees, so the air is pushed downward in whichever direction they move. This is like the horizontal rotor of a helicopter. Since their wings produce as much power on the up stroke as on the down stroke, their muscle structure is different than other birds. Both flight muscles are large and comprise 30% of their total body weight.

Nature's flying machine is truly remarkable. The hummingbird can rotate their wings at the shoulders. Instead of the up and down movement, it is almost like a helicopter taking off. The hummingbird flaps its wings 10 times per second and flies at 60 mph. Every bird can change speeds, but has a top speed during flight because drag doubles with an increase in speed. This requires a lot of extra energy. They have a natural mechanism to solve this power problem. All internal organs of a hummingbird run at high speed. This produces high energy, but also shortens the life span of the bird. The kinds of foods consumed by hummingbirds must be light weight and "high-octane". Foods high in calories produce the most amount of reusable energy: seeds, nuts, flower nectar, and fruit.

Some birds have to eat their weight in food everyday to maintain themselves. The speed at which a hummingbird burns its food is 50 times greater than man. Most birds feed during the day and are able to replace the foods they use up. However, at night they must rest and their body functions slow down in order to conserve energy. A hummingbird would starve to death in the night if his heart, respiration, and body temperature didn't slow down. This torpid state works very much like hibernation.

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Last modified: Sat Nov 15 19:04:46 PST 1997