Join us Sunday, January 10 starting at 9pm ET for a live chat with Ann Prum.

Hummingbirds are the tiniest of birds, yet they are some of the toughest, most energetic creatures on the planet. Their unique flying abilities give them unmatched maneuverability, but at the cost of a supercharged metabolism that keeps them on the edge of survival. Hummingbirds spend most their lives in fast forward, but now high-speed video lets us enter their world. Buy the DVD. This film premiered January 10, 2010.

Because hummingbirds live their lives in fast forward, much of their fascinating world is typically lost to human perception. But using cameras able to capture over 500 images a second, the hummingbirds’ magical world can finally be seen and appreciated. Amazing footage shows these little powerhouses are far more than delicate nectar gatherers — they are also deadly predators. And watch as the birds display their elaborate mating rituals, showing off with nose dives that subject them to over ten G’s of force — enough to cause an experienced fighter pilot to black out!

These tiny marvels dazzle and delight bird watchers all over the world, and NATURE reveals their stunning abilities as they have never been seen before.

GRADE LEVEL: 9 -12

TOPIC/SUBJECT MATTER: Physics/Physical Science

TIME ALLOTMENT: 4 class periods (1 class period per learning activity)

OVERVIEW

Hummingbirds are truly remarkable creatures, with spectacular abilities that go beyond the limits of what other birds can do.  For many years, the intricacies of hummingbird behavior were beyond human comprehension; however, with new high-speed cameras and video technology, scientists and researchers can now see what makes hummingbirds so special.  It’s not magic – it’s physics.

The Physics of Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air is comprised of four mini-lesson plans – each designed to be completed in one class period – introducing and explaining four different concepts found in the high school physics curriculum.   Through the four activities, students will consider Newton’s Third Law of Motion as it relates to hummingbirds’ extraordinary flight, observe hummingbirds’ state of torpor as an introduction to thermodynamic processes, examine the origins of sound with unique “chirp” of the Anna’s hummingbird, and explore properties of visible light through hummingbirds’ dazzling iridescent feathers.

The four learning activities in this lesson are not designed to be used over four consecutive class periods; rather they are to be used individually at appropriate points in the curriculum.  Each activity will be preceded by notes and recommendations for classroom implementation.

MEDIA RESOURCES

Video from episode “Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air”

1. Flight Patterns
This clip explains how hovering gives humming birds unique flight capabilities.

2. The Heat is On
This clip explains how hummingbirds’ torpor allows them to conserve heat and energy.

3. Making Waves
This clips explores the unique “chirp” of the Anna’s hummingbird.

4. The Light Fantastic
This clip describes the colors produced by iridescent hummingbird feathers.

Access the streaming and downloadable video at the Video Segments Page.

Websites

NOVA: Getting Airborne

This web interactive allows students to explore how different wing types are affected by the forces of lift and drag.

STANDARDS

National Science Education Standards, Grades 9 – 12

Physical Science

Content Standard B

MOTIONS AND FORCES

• Objects change their motion only when a net force is applied. Laws of motion are used to calculate precisely the effects of forces on the motion of objects. The magnitude of the change in motion can be calculated using the relationship F = ma, which is independent of the nature of the force. Whenever one object exerts force on another, a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction is exerted on the first object.

CONSERVATION OF ENERGY AND THE INCREASE IN DISORDER

[See Content Standard C (grades 9-12)]

• The total energy of the universe is constant. Energy can be transferred by collisions in chemical and nuclear reactions, by light waves and other radiations, and in many other ways. However, it can never be destroyed. As these transfers occur, the matter involved becomes steadily less ordered.

INTERACTIONS OF ENERGY AND MATTER

[See Content Standard D (grades 9-12)]

• Waves, including sound and seismic waves, waves on water, and light waves, have energy and can transfer energy when they interact with matter.

Life Science

Content Standard C

MATTER, ENERGY, AND ORGANIZATION IN LIVING SYSTEMS

[See Unifying Concepts and Processes]

• All matter tends toward more disorganized states. Living systems require a continuous input of energy to maintain their chemical and physical organizations. With death, and the cessation of energy input, living systems rapidly disintegrate.

MATERIALS

For each student:

• Flight Patterns Student Organizer
• The Heat Is On Student Organizer
• Making Waves Student Organizer
• The Light Fantastic Student Organizer
• Several plain drinking straws

For each pair or group of 3-4 students:

• Hand boiler (available from science classroom suppliers
• Pair of scissors
• Soap bubble solution
• Soap bubble wand

For the class:

• Flight Patterns Student Organizer Answer Key
• The Heat Is On Answer Key

OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to:

• Identify how Newton’s Third Law of Motion relates to flight
• Explain and understand thermodynamic processes
• Describe the origin of sound and sound waves
• List and explain the characteristics of light waves that contribute to iridescence

PREP FOR TEACHERS

Prior to teaching this lesson, you will need to:

Preview all of the video segments and websites used in the lesson.

Download the video clips used in the lesson to your classroom computer, or prepare to watch them using your classroom’s Internet connection.

Make copies of the student organizers for each student in the class.

Obtain hand boilers for students.  If these are not already available in your school, you can find them at many science classroom supply outlets.

Obtain soap bubble solution and bubble wands for students.  Ready-made containers are available in many stores, or you can mix your own soap bubble solution (1 part dish soap to 10 parts water) and create your own wands (bend a paper clip or pipe cleaner into the appropriate shape).

Bookmark the websites used in the lesson on each computer in your classroom. Using a social bookmarking tool such as del.icio.us or diigo (or an online bookmarking utility such as portaportal) will allow you to organize all the links in a central location.

Proceed to Lesson Activities.

Excerpts from the NATURE episode, Hummingbirds: Magic In The Air

Flight Patterns
(View full post to see video)

The Heat is On
(View full post to see video)

Making Waves
(View full post to see video)

The Light Fantastic
(View full post to see video)

Downloadable QuickTime versions of the video segments:
(Note: To download a video, right click on the video title and click “Save Link As…’ or “Save Target As…”. On a Mac, press the CTRL key and simultaneously click the mouse, then save the link.)

Video Clips
1. Flight Patterns
This clip explains how hovering gives humming birds unique flight capabilities.

2. The Heat is On
This clip explains how hummingbirds’ torpor allows them to conserve heat and energy.

3. Making Waves
This clips explores the unique “chirp” of the Anna’s hummingbird.

4. The Light Fantastic
This clip describes the colors produced by iridescent hummingbird feathers.

When the event is live, click the “play” button to join the conversation. Then, enter your name and your question for Ann.

Watch the episode, then try to identify all 46 species pictured, and you could win a copy of Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air on DVD.

The first person to identify them all — or the first person with the most correct responses by Friday, January 15, 2010 at 5:00pm ET — will be the winner.

Please use either ALL common names or ALL Latin names to help us check your responses. Once we have a winner, we’ll post all of the species names and photos for your reference.

Come on, give it your best shot!

–
Update: January 21, 2010

Congratulations to our winner, Ashley Hawrylyshyn, who named 36 out of 46 species correctly! Thanks to everyone who entered.