Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something at no extra cost to you. Please check out our policies page
for more details.
We’ve been watching a lot of Star Wars lately, and the kids are now interested in all things Star Wars. The characters, the Force, and even those super cool landspeeders.
Even though the landspeeders use “repulsorlift engines”, we set out to make our own version of a landspeeder, instead our version is the very real Ground Effect Vehicle (GEV).
This Ground Effect Vehicle experiment utilizes air cushioning under a cardstock GEV body to make the vehicle float just above the floor as it travels. It teaches aerodynamics, physics, and simple construction principles to teach kids about these interesting vehicles.
How to make the Build a Ground Effect Vehicle experiment
Supplies you will need
For this experiment, you’ll need:
- Cardstock (2)
- Binder clips (2)
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Tape
- Pencil
Before you start
Please watch your fingers around the scissors!
Instructions
Here is how to do this experiment with your child:
Step 1: Cut a piece of cardstock in half
Fold the piece of cardstock that you want to use for the body in half (hamburger style fold). Cut along the fold and put one piece aside; you’ll only need one half for the body.
Step 2: Mark 1″ in on both sides of cardstock
For this step, we’ll be marking one of the shorter sides of the cardstock you cut in step 1.
Using your ruler, mark 1″ from the right and left. Draw a straight line from the 1″ mark to the corner of the opposite end of the cardstock (see images below).
Repeat that for the other 1″ mark.
Finally, fold along the lines you just drew. That’s the body of the GEV!
Step 3: Measure out the stabilizer
For this next step, we are creating the stabilizer piece that will go on top of the body of the GEV.
The stabilizer is for, like it sounds, stabilizing the Ground Effect Vehicle. If we don’t have the stabilizer, our GEV is subjected to outside forces and might not stay on its course.
Here are the measurements you will use for the stabilizer (using your second sheet of cardstock):
- Bottom: 9″
- Sides: 1.5″
- Split the top into 3 sections, 3″ long
- Middle top section is 0.5″ higher than other two 3″ sections
Once you’ve made your measurements, cut out the stabilizer. We’ll be folding it in the next step.
Step 4: Fold the stabilizer
Mark 2″ from each side with a straight line from top to bottom. Fold along that straight line.
Finally, fold another straight line, from top to bottom, where the middle 3″ section meets the two outside 3″ sections (see pictures below).
Step 5: Add the stabilizer and binder clip to the GEV body
Final step! Tape the stabilizer to the back of the GEV body (the longer, unfolded side) and add the binder clip to the from of the GEV.
The binder clip acts as a weight to keep the GEV from flipping over, since our vehicle relies on air beneath it to help it travel farther.
If you find that your GEV still flips, just add another binder clip to the front.
The STEM behind the Build a Ground Effect Vehicle experiment
This experiment teaches:
- Aerodynamics
- Physics
- Construction
How it works
Our ground effect vehicle (GEV) operates on air cushioning, so it’s slightly different than the bigger GEVs that operate on the wing-generated lift. Even so, it displays the concept of GEVs more simply.
The folded front of our GEV is slightly raised and captures airflow under the vehicle, directing it back to the flat surface. That forced air creates a small cushion of higher-pressure air, which reduces the friction between our vehicle (the cardstock) and the ground.
The stabilizer on the back of the GEV gives our vehicle some directional stability. Without it, the vehicle could very easily fly off course. Finally, the binder clip at the front of the vehicle provides a little bit of weight to ensure the front of the vehicle does not fly up and flip around.
The force of the airflow propels the cardstock forward, and the air cushion minimizes friction, allowing it to glide.
Aerodynamics
Even with a super simplified GEV like this one that primarily demonstrates air cushioning, kids can still gain fundamental aerodynamic insights. We can directly observe air as a force by watching how airflow propels the GEV.
The concept of pressure differences is demonstrated through the air cushion underneath the vehicle, showing how forced air creates a higher-pressure zone that reduces friction. When pushed just right (with the right amount of airflow), our GEV can go pretty far!
You can also talk about stability and control by adding the stabilizer and the binder clips. A great experiment to show how these aid in flight is to do the experiment without these key elements. What happens if we have no binder clips in the front? (The GEV flips more easily.) What happens if we don’t have a stabilizer? (The GEV might swerve around instead of following a straight flight path.)
Your understanding of aerodynamics can only go up from here!
Physics
This experiment is a great way to introduce Newton’s Laws to kids!
- Newton’s First Law (inertia): We can see that the GEV stays still until a force (the airflow) acts on it, and that it continues to move util friction or another force stops it.
- Newton’s Second Law (F=ma): We can play with different amounts of force to see how it affects the GEV’s acceleration. A stronger force makes it move faster!
- Newton’s Third Law (action-reaction): This law is one we see more indirectly but we can talk about it. The air pushes the cardstock and the cardstock moves forward.
We can also talk through friction in this experiment. Friction is what eventually makes our GEV slow down to a stop, otherwise, it would keep floating forever! You could even try flying your GEV on different surfaces, like a rug and tile floor, to see how it flies over each surface.
Construction
As you build the GEV, you can discuss construction and how we carefully select the materials we use to make the vehicle.
For example: we used cardstock in this experiment because it’s much thicker than regular paper, meaning it holds its shape and folds much better than regular paper.
We can also talk about joining and fastening of the stabilizer and the binder clips. We use tape and the clip in this experiment, but how would they connect the stabilizer and counterweight on a real life GEV?
More experiments about vehicles to try out with your child
- Electro-Wheels: Unleashing the Power of Energy Conversion with a DIY Mini Car!
- Up, Up, and Away: DIY Balloon-Powered Helicopter Fun!
- Rev Up with Engineering Fun: Build a Chemical Reaction Car!
- Build and Race a Balloon Car!
Recent Posts
It’s March, which means the winds are picking up and storms can happen at the drop of a hat. And when the winds pick up, what does that mean? We do experiments with it! Enter, the weather...
It’s March, which means the weather is turning from cloudy and cold to spring and sunny. We decided to do the 1,000 Hours Outside challenge this year, which means we are outside for play,...