what are the variables in a paper airplane experiment

Distance Experiment

If you want to find the paper airplane that flies the furthest, you'll need to experiment with different designs and carefully select your paper. let's figure out how to do this., table of contents.

One of the most common questions that people have about paper airplanes, is "Which one flies the furthest?" There is no definitive answer to this question because there are many variables that affect the outcome. For example, an adult throwing hard against the wind and a child throwing gently indoors are two very different scenarios and the paper airplane that flies the furthest may not be the same in both cases.

The next section will outline some of the variables that affect flight, and the rest of this article will teach you how to experiment to figure out which paper airplanes fly the furthest for your particular scenario.

Variables that Affect Paper Airplanes

There are many variables that affect how paper airplanes fly. Some of these can be intuitively understood, but some may require experimentation to reach a conclusion. Keep in mind that each paper airplane design is different and may require different variables to maximize it's performance.

• Paper Size - Does a large or small airplane fly further?
• Paper Thickness - Does the thickness of the paper matter?
• Height of Throw - An airplane thrown from higher up will likely go further.
• Strength of Throw - An airplane thrown harder may go further, unless you throw it too hard and make the wings deform.
• Angle of Throw - What is the optimum angle to throw the airplane? Straight ahead, 30°, 45°, or something else?
• Wind - Throwing with the wind may help and against the wind may hurt. Throwing at an angle to the wind may make your airplane tip or turn.
• Center of Mass - Do you want the center of mass to be towards the front or the rear?
• Symmetry - Accurate folds improve symmetry. How much does symmetry affect the performance?
• Crisp Folds - Do crisp folds work better than gentle folds?
• Altitude - Places with higher elevation have lower air pressure. Does this make a difference?

Paper Airplane Distance Experiment

When you are conducting an experiment like this, it's important to alter only one variable at a time while keeping the other variables unchanged. For example, if you want to determine the best angle at which to throw the airplane, you wouldn't want to have two different people throwing the airplanes, because at the end of the experiment you wouldn't know if it was the angle or the person throwing the airplane that made the difference. Eliminating all of the other variables can sometimes be difficult. We recommending using a large indoor area because this is a reliable way to eliminate wind as a variable.

Before you start your experiment, it's a good idea to come up with a hypothesis. This is a guess or prediction about what you think is going to happen. For example, if you are experimenting with the angle of throw, you might make the hypothesis that throwing the paper airplane at 45° is the optimum angle for maximizing distance. Your experiment will then prove or disprove your hypothesis.

You'll also need a way to measure large distances. A tape measure will work. You can also use a piece of string with knots or marks at regular intervals.

Now it's time to throw some paper airplanes! For whichever variable you are experimenting with, you should pick a few different values. Throw your paper airplanes multiple times at each value to get a range of distances that you can average. For example, if you are experimenting with the angle of throw, you could try throwing straight ahead (0°), slightly angled up (20°), more angled (45°), and at a steep angle (70°). We recommend taking at least five measurements for each different value.

Remember to carefully write down all of your measurements so you can analyze and graph it latter.

Analyzing Your Results

It's time to analyze the data and test your hypothesis. A nice way to do this is with a chart. Get a piece of graph paper and draw a blank chart with an x and y axis. The x-axis (horizontal) is going to be different values for the variable that you are experimenting with. The y-axis (vertical) is going to be the distance that each paper airplane flew. Mark each data point with a dot on the graph. For example, if a paper airplane was thrown at 20° and flew 40 feet, you would move along the x-axis to the 20° mark and then move up the y-axis to the 40 mark and draw your dot. Your graph may something like this. You can average the results for each value and draw a trend line.

If you collect more data, you can get a better picture of the trend. Collecting more data can mean making more throws at each point. This will make the average trend line more accurate. You can also collect more data by adding more values along the x-axis to test. Try some extreme values or try values in between two other values that have a big difference. This will increase the resolution of your graph.

If your graph looks like the one above, what conclusions can you make? It would appear that the values towards the middle performed better than the ones at the extremes. This means, that if you want to throw a paper airplane the furthest, you should use the middle value.

What if your graph had looked like the one below? This graph seems to show that there wasn't much difference in the distance that the airplane flew. The variable that you experimented with doesn't matter, at least in the way that you tested it. Maybe it would make a difference in another scenario.

Do your results confirm or disprove your hypothesis? If they confirm your prediction, then congratulations, you have an intuitive understanding of how that variable affects paper airplanes. If your results disprove your hypothesis, that's great! You just learned something new! Sometimes the best scientific experiments are the ones that have unexpected results.

There are many factors that can contribute to different results. If the experiment were repeated with different conditions, you could compare the results and perhaps reach a different conclusion and learn something else.

Each airplane design has unique aerodynamic properties. A different style of airplane may produce totally different results. You could repeat this experiment with a few different designs and see if you reach the same conclusion.

Congratulations! You just completed a paper airplane experiment!

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Paper Airplane Experiment

Kids love doing science instead of just reading about it. The PAPER AIRPLANE EXPERIMENT is perfectly paired with the study of the scientific method or even the history of flight! This experiment is inexpensive, accessible, and doesn’t make a mess! 

Paper airplanes are always a hit around my house! So, when creating an experiment for us to conduct that would allow the boys to practice the scientific method, this was a no-brainer! Our posing question was:

• Does the type of paper you use for a paper airplane change how far it will fly?

Don’t you appreciate an easy materials list! I do. All you will need is:

• Construction Paper
• Notebook Paper
• Computer Paper
• Printed out Lab Sheet

Paper Airplane Experiment Lab Sheets

The Paper Airplane Experiment Lab Sheets will guide you and your student through this fun hands-on scientific investigation. Walk through the experiment step-by-step using the 3-page student lab sheets . I didn’t forget about you teaching mommas (and dads), the teacher’s cheat sheet is also included in the download.  DOWNLOAD HERE . 

After collecting our materials and cutting our different types of paper to the right size, the boys made their airplanes. Now, one of my sons wanted to use his own design while another wanted me to print out the  Classic Dart design . Our favorite paper airplane book of all time is Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes Craft kit.

Once we had the airplanes ready to go, we sat, talked, and the boys answered the questions on their lab sheet. Each of them formed his hypothesis and as a group we discussed the variables in the experiment. If your student needs a review of variables, watch  The Scientific Method slideshow .

EXPERIMENT TIME!!! This is the fun part! It was a beautiful spring day. The only issue we ran into was a little wind. One of our airplanes flew backwards! All in the name of science! There are ten trials in this experiment, so your student will be flying his or her airplanes 10 times each and after each trial, record their data.  

After testing hypotheses, the boys shared their data and findings with each other. We all sat and discussed their results. I led them through a discussion about manipulated variables and if they could think of ways to improve the design of the experiment. In the end, we all had fun and I think they learned something too, which is always nice at the end of a school day. Happy learning!

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Last Modified: Jan 5, 2024 by Tara Gerner 6 Comments

Paper Airplane Science - An Experiment Designed and Tested by Your Kids

Paper Airplane Science

During my undergraduate education at Penn State, I learned that students learn best when they are in the driver's seat - when they are figuring out what to study, when they are designing the study, when they are identifying the problem and creating the experiment. This is not usually feasible in a public school setting, but in a homeschool, why not? It makes perfect sense.

In this experiment, the student is in control. After you teach her about the scientific method, give her the printable from this scientific method post or the printable below (they are basically the same, but the one below includes some follow up questions), and let her go.

If she has never had to design her own experiment before, your student may need help in coming up with her own hypothesis and experiment steps. If it's an unfamiliar process because you've always done recipe-style science before, she will need some hand-holding. 

Teaching the scientific method using the paper airplane lab (click here for printable lab)

Here are the basic steps with some tips:

• What airplane design will fly the furthest?
• What kind of material will help my paper airplane fly the furthest?
• What effect does weight have on a paper airplane?
• What kind of paper airplane will fly in a loop?
• Research the question. I personally wouldn't have your student look into other experiments and their results or try to answer their question, but I would have her research different paper airplane designs if that is a variable in her experiment. (Note - if her question is something like the last one above, she may have to do some research to find airplane designs that are supposed to make loops.)
• I think the (design name) airplane will fly the furthest.
• I think the airplane made of cardstock will fly furthest, and the airplane made of newspaper will fly the shortest.
• I think the lightest airplane will fly the furthest.
• I think the (design name) will fly in a loop.
• Create an experiment to test the hypothesis. Remind your student that she should do at least 3 trials for each step of her plan. Also, to avoid unnecessary error, she should make a concerted attempt to throw the airplane in exactly the same way each time. That is, throw it in the same place (inside or outside - careful of the wind), in the same conditions (wind or ceiling fan), and with the same strength (results wouldn't be valid if she threw one hard and one gently).
• Observe and analyze the results. Hypotheses that reference distance flown lend themselves very nicely to creating bar graphs. Graphing is an important mathy skill that is used frequently in science, so if you have the opportunity, do it! Look for patterns here - what defines flying the best? What do the results mean?
• If you did this experiment again, would you get the same results? Why or why not?
• Will someone else who follows your procedure get the same data? Why or why not?
• Besides weight, what factors affect the flight of a paper airplane?
• How else could you have designed the experiment to test this hypothesis?
• Which variables could you manipulate? Which were fixed?
• Did your data support or disprove the hypothesis? Explain.
• Why did we fly paper airplanes? (In other words, what did you learn from this activity?)
• Report your findings. I probably wouldn't ask my homeschooled kids to write a lab report (although, if they were in high school, it might be a useful skill in prepping for college), but I would certainly ask them to tell their dad over dinner all about the experiment. They designed it, created the hypothesis, and tested it all on their own, so they will probably be excited about talking it up. Plus, who doesn't like paper airplanes?

I love this paper airplane lab, and I did it with every new class I taught, always during the first week so that the kids could see some ownership of their scientific process and also so they could see how much fun science can be. Will you try it out at the beginning of the new school year?

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Stephe Lubin says

September 09, 2018 at 10:07 am

I like the activity but really hate the political correctness. The proper pronouns when speaking of boys and girls is him.

Tara Ziegmont says

September 09, 2018 at 10:12 am

You do things your way, and I'll do them mine. I have only daughters, so when I think of a student, I think of HER.

shannon says

September 10, 2019 at 7:38 pm

I appreciate your pronouns and your lesson! Thank you. Using your idea to teach my 5th graders about the Scientific Method.

October 13, 2021 at 12:51 am

Wow what if someday your daughters identify as something other than her.

As a teacher I think it is our responsibility to be inclusive of all students and that means not using boys and girls any more.

Times are a changing.

missy susan smith says

July 12, 2022 at 1:29 pm

oh my gosh- the woman has a daughter, leave her alone. there are much bigger problems in this world than if she says she or he, the hate shown on here is one of them. leave her alone

Elleon says

September 17, 2023 at 12:38 pm

Paper Airplanes: The science behind it

Do you remember folding and flying paper airplanes when you were a child? It turns out that they’re not only fun, but can be a great teaching experience for your child.

Building paper airplanes with your child helps them to understand simple principles of aerodynamics, like what makes a plane fly and what can affect the flight. It also helps with the concept of distance, since you can measure how far each paper airplane flies during your experiment.

I know it sounds a little intimidating to teach your child about aerodynamics, but these concepts are very basic and I walk you through the entire thing below!

How to make the Paper Airplanes experiment

Supplies you will need.

For the paper airplane experiment, you’ll need:

• 3 sheets of printer paper

Before you start

Although I do walk you through the steps of making 3 different paper airplanes, I did gather these folds from a great site called Fold ‘N Fly . If you find these particular airplanes challenging, you may find a better fit for you on their site.

I do recommend choosing 2-3 different airplane folds so you can cover the science behind it by comparing the models. The 3 folds I cover here have varying wing lengths, and that’s what we will talk through in the “Science Behind It” section.

Instructions

Here is how to do the paper airplane experiment with your child:

Step 1: Fold 2-3 paper airplanes

I chose to do 3 paper airplane folds. I’ll link to each one on the Fold ‘N Fly site below, as well as include a quick video of me folding them.

“The Basic” – this is the paper airplane fold that most people first learn how to fold. Very easy to do!

“Basic Dart” – the next level up from the basic airplane fold. It’s sleeker and is supposed to travel farther.

“The Stable” – I hadn’t heard of this fold before, but it was easy to do and, like its name, is very stable and can fly far.

Get your child involved : If your child is able to do simple folds, allow them to make the first couple of folds on each paper airplane. If not, then start the fold and let them press on the crease.

(Optional) Step 2: Create a runway to track the flying distance of each airplane

I chose to use painter’s tape on the carpet for this step. Just stick a few lines of tape on the carpet before flying your airplanes and see which went the farthest!

Get your child involved : Let them fly the plane! Show them how to hold it properly and how much force to throw it with and see how far they can throw it. If you have extra paper, create an extra airplane of each fold so you can compete!

The science behind the Paper Airplanes experiment

Teaching your child about aerodynamics is a lot more fun when they get to build and fly airplanes. This experiment does just that: testing out different airplanes, asking questions about why and what makes them fly further, and flying them to find the answers!

In our experiment, we test out 3 different airplanes of varying wing lengths and bodies. This allows us to answer important questions about flying airplanes:

• Which model of airplane will fly farther? One with a shorter or longer wingspan?
• Does the length of the airplane affect anything?
• Which model allows us to fly higher? Perform spins? Fly further? Fly more controlled?

While you’re running the experiment with your child, compare the wingspans before flight, then test each one. It will help them to keep that information in mind while flying the airplanes.

How it works

There are several different forces at work that affect how far our paper airplanes will fly:

• Drag – resistance our airplanes encounter while moving through the air
• Thrust – the forward movement of the airplane, which is provided by us in this experiment
• Lift – the air below the airplane wings that help it keep flying
• Gravity – the force that pulls the airplane downward

The first and third folds, “Basic” and “The Stable” are considered gliders (although “Basic” is more of a hybrid between a dart and glider) and the second fold is a dart.

Gliders can utilize lift much better than darts due to their larger wingspan, although they cannot tolerate much thrust to get it started. Darts, on the other hand, can tolerate a large amount of thrust but cannot utilize lift as well.

While the larger wingspan does allow the gliders to have longer flight time, they do not technically fly the farthest distance. Darts, given their resiliency to a larger amount of thrust, allow them to fly farther and spend less time aloft.

More physics experiments to try out with your child

• Catapults – build a catapult and see what makes your objects fly farther!
• Sink or float – what is density and how do you know when something is denser than the liquid it’s in?

FAQ about the Paper Airplanes Experiment

What makes a paper airplane fly farther.

When it comes to distance, dart paper airplanes tend to fly farther than a glider. This is due to the amount of thrust a dart can handle, giving it more power to fly farther.

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Fundamentals of Aerodynamics & Test using Paper Airplanes

Yes, it is possible to learn the fundamentals of aerodynamics using paper airplanes. By experimenting with different designs and observing how they fly, you can gain a basic understanding of concepts such as lift, drag, and thrust. However, to truly understand aerodynamics, it would be necessary to study the subject in more depth, using resources such as books, videos, and simulations.

What is a simple definition of aerodynamics?

Aerodynamics is the study of how air moves around and affects objects that are in motion. It is concerned with understanding the physical laws that govern the behavior of air and the performance of objects as they move through the air, such as airplanes, automobiles, and sports equipment.

What are the 4 laws of aerodynamics?

• Newton’s First Law of Motion: an object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same velocity unless acted upon by a force.
• Newton’s Second Law of Motion: the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
• Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
• Bernoulli’s Principle: as the speed of a fluid (such as air) increases, its pressure decreases. This principle is crucial for understanding lift.

How do aerodynamics work?

Aerodynamics involves the study of airflow over an object and the forces that result from that flow. The motion of an object through the air creates various forces, such as lift, drag, and thrust, which determine its performance and behavior. The design of the object, such as its shape, surface texture, and angle of attack, also plays a significant role in its aerodynamic performance.

What is an aerodynamic example?

One common example of aerodynamics in action is the design of an airplane. The wings of an airplane are shaped to generate lift, allowing it to take off and stay in the air. The surface of the wings and fuselage is smooth and streamlined to reduce drag and improve performance.

Who is the father of aerodynamics?

Daniel Bernoulli, a Swiss mathematician, and physicist are considered the father of aerodynamics. He is best known for his work on fluid dynamics and his discovery of the principle that bears his name: Bernoulli’s Principle.

What is the aerodynamics formula?

There is no single formula for aerodynamics, as it involves a complex interaction of many variables and physical laws. However, some important aerodynamic forces and relationships, such as lift and drag, can be calculated using equations based on Bernoulli’s Principle and the laws of motion.

What are the two types of aerodynamics?

There are two main branches of aerodynamics: inviscid aerodynamics and viscous aerodynamics. Inviscid aerodynamics deals with the behavior of ideal fluids, such as air, with no viscosity (or internal friction). Viscous aerodynamics, on the other hand, takes into account the effects of viscosity and the behavior of real fluids.

What is the first law of aerodynamics?

The first law of aerodynamics is Newton’s First Law of Motion, which states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same velocity unless acted upon by a force. This law is critical for understanding the stability and motion of objects in flight.

What are two applications of aerodynamics?

Aerodynamics has a wide range of applications, including:

• Aerospace: the design and performance of aircraft, including airplanes, helicopters, and missiles.
• Automotive: the design and performance of cars, trucks, and racing vehicles.

These are just two examples, as aerodynamics also plays a role in many other fields, such as sports equipment design, wind turbine design, and even animal flight.

The fundamentals of aerodynamics:

• Bernoulli’s Principle: states that as the speed of a fluid (such as air) increases, its pressure decreases. This principle is crucial for understanding lift.
• Newton’s Laws of Motion: the laws that describe the relationship between an object’s mass, its acceleration, and the forces acting upon it, including aerodynamic forces.
• Lift: The upward force generated by the shape of an object and the airflow around it. Lift is what allows an airplane to fly.
• Drag: the friction force that opposes motion through a fluid and acts in the opposite direction to the object’s motion.
• Thrust: the force produced by a propulsion system that moves an object through the air.
• Angle of Attack: the angle between an object’s wings and the oncoming airflow, which affects lift and stability.
• Streamlining: the shaping of an object to reduce drag and increase its speed through the air.

These concepts are the building blocks for understanding the fundamentals of aerodynamics and how to design objects that can fly efficiently and effectively.

Aerodynamic experiments using Paper airplanes

To test the fundamentals of aerodynamics & its advanced principles, Here are a few aerodynamic experiments you can conduct using paper airplanes:

• Lift and drag experiment: Fold several paper airplanes with different wing shapes and test how far they fly, how long they stay in the air, and how stable they are in flight. Measure the distance and time for each design and compare the results. This can help you understand the concepts of lift, which is the upward force that opposes the weight of the airplane, and drag, which is the force that opposes the motion of the airplane through the air. If you do not know how to make a paper airplane check out our free paper airplanes directory for free instructions.
• Glide ratio experiment: Fold a paper airplane with a symmetrical wing shape and test the glide ratio by measuring the distance it flies horizontally compared to the distance it falls vertically. The glide ratio is the ratio of horizontal distance flown to vertical distance fallen. Experiment with different wing shapes, wing angles, and wing loading to see how it affects the glide ratio.
• Wing loading experiment: Fold a paper airplane with a symmetrical wing shape and change its weight by adding a small amount of weight to its nose or tail. Measure the distance and time for each design and compare the results. This can help you understand the concept of wing loading, which is the ratio of an airplane’s weight to its wing area, and how it affects the flight performance.
• The angle of attack experiment: Fold a paper airplane with a symmetrical wing shape and test how it flies at different angles of attack, which is the angle between the wing and the airflow. Measure the distance and time for each design and compare the results. This can help you understand how the angle of attack affects the lift and drag of the airplane.
• Thrust experiment: Fold a paper airplane with a symmetrical wing shape and attach a small motor or a rubber band to the tail of the airplane. Measure the distance and time for each design and compare the results. This can help you understand the concept of thrust, which is the force that propels the airplane forward.

These are just a few examples of experiments you can conduct using paper airplanes to understand the fundamentals of aerodynamics. Remember that the key is to keep track of the variables you’re testing and to make detailed observations and measurements.

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The Science of Flight with Paper Airplanes

This post may contain affiliate links.

Today, we’ll explore the fascinating science of flight through some fun and entertaining paper airplane experiments.  While airplanes sometimes feel like magic the way they stay afloat, there are scientific principles to explain it all!

We recently visited the Hill Airfare Museum in Ogden, UT.  It is an amazing display of aircraft that the military has used over the years.  I learned so much about airplane design and thought it would be fun to go deeper with my kids. My husbands grandfather was a pilot in WWII and we got to see the type of plane he flew during that time. It’s always great when we can incorporate some of our own family history into our lessons.

The Science of Flight:

Before we dive into making paper planes, let’s learn the basic principles and science of flight. There are four forces at play when it comes to keeping an object airborne: lift, weight (gravity), thrust, and drag.

Forces of Flight :

• Lift: Lift is the force that allows an object to rise against the force of gravity. It directly opposes the weight of an airplane and keeps it up. For airplanes, lift happens due to the aerodynamic shape of the airplane wing. The aircraft design causes the air to move faster on top of the wings causing greater air pressure on the bottom of the wing. This pressure difference helps lift the plane. This is also known as Bernoulli’s Principle.  Newton’s third law of motion is in effect here, too.  I’ll talk more about that in a minute.
• Weight (Gravity): Gravity is a force of attraction pulling everything to the center of the Earth. To stay in the air, an airplane needs to have enough lift to counteract its weight. Otherwise, the plane would not be able to fly.
• Thrust: Thrust is the forward force that propels an object through the air. When birds fly, they use flapping wings to thrust them forward.  Airplanes use engines to create thrust and propel them forward. The thrust helps overcome the drag of the planes. We can also bring in Newton’s 3rd law of Motion to this: “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”  Airplanes use a jet engine or a propeller.  There is an expulsion of exhaust gases or air at high speed with these engines. The action is the expulsion of these gases in one direction, and the reaction is the equal and opposite force propelling or thrusting the aircraft forward.
• Drag: Drag is the resistance the airplane encounters as it moves through the air. It’s essential to balance the amount of thrust and the amount of drag for efficient and controlled flight. Drag is caused by friction and air pressure. Aeronautical engineers have learned to reduce drag by using smother materials and narrower wings. You may have thought that giant wings will make a plane fly better, but that’s not always the case!

Science of Paper Airplanes:

Now, let’s apply these principles to paper airplanes. Believe it or not, these simple paper airplanes follow the same scientific principles that keep jet planes in the air!  Science is awesome like that.

• Aerodynamics: The shape of a paper airplane is critical for generating lift. Experiment with different folds and designs to find the best balance. I have some examples below! An aerodynamic shape will help your plane fly a greater distance through the air.
• Weight Distribution: Play around with the weight distribution of your paper plane. A well-balanced plane will fly more smoothly. Try adding paperclips to the nose or tail until you find a good balance.
• Thrust: The initial force you give your paper airplane when launching it is its thrust. Experiment with different launch angles and amounts of force to see how they affect the flight. You can even try launching it with a rubber band!
• Drag Reduction: Reduce your airplane”s drag by keeping the surfaces smooth. Avoid wrinkles and folds that could create extra resistance.

These same principles work when flying a kite, too! The principles of aerodynamics, lift and drag all apply to kites. Maybe I’ll do a post on that someday, too!

Science of Flight with Paper Airplanes:

Now that you know the basics, let’s conduct a little experiment. Create two paper airplanes with different designs and test which one flies farther. Observe how changes in wing shape, weight distribution, and thrust affect the flight. Don’t forget to record your findings!

Here are two of our favorite paper airplane designs. They are made the same way, one just starts with folding the paper widthwise and the other starts by folding it lengthwise.

The History of Flight:

Learning about the science of flight cannot be complete without a little knowledge about the history of it, too. All through the ages, man has wanted to learn to fly.  There are some incredible stories of bravery and perseverance as people gradually learned more about the principles of flight.

Humans first flew above the ground in a hot air balloon. In 1783, the Montgolfier brothers successfully launched the world’s first manned hot air balloon in Annonay, France. The balloon rose to an altitude of about 6,000 feet and traveled over a mile.  The science of how a hot air balloon flies is a whole other post, but many of the same scientific principles apply.  I’ll share more not hat another day!

The first airplane flight was achieved by the Wright Brothers in 1903.  Orville and Wilbur Wright, two bicycle mechanics from Ohio, achieved the first controlled, sustained, powered flight. Their airplane, the Wright Flyer, took off from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and flew for just 12 seconds.  It covered a distance of 120 feet.  Following their flight, the technology quickly advanced with many others jumping in to help.

The first flight into space is also a monumental moment in the history of flight.  In 1961, Yuri Gagarin from the Soviet Union became the first person in space. The Vostok 1 circled the Earth at a speed of 17,000 mph! with his flight lasting 108 minutes. Isn’t it amazing that in just over 50 years, we went from the first 12 second flight to a flight into space!

Whether your kids are flying paper planes through the living room or dreaming of becoming a pilot one day, understanding the science of flight is the key to understanding how it all works. So, let your kids keep experimenting.  Maybe one day they will design the next generation of airplanes!

See More Fun Science Activities:

STEM Engineering for Kids: Make a Bubble Blower Machine

Engineering: Make Paper Hold Up Books!

The COOLEST Science Art Projects for Kids

Do you have my Science Art book yet?  Be sure to grab your copy for more awesome science ideas!

Former school teacher turned homeschool mom of 4 kids. Loves creating awesome hands-on creative learning ideas to make learning engaging and memorable for all kids!

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Edit worksheet on google docs, paper airplane investigation worksheet, paper airplanes presentation, paper airplane investigation.

Students will design and test various paper airplane models to explore the principles of flight. They will formulate hypotheses about which designs will fly the farthest, then conduct controlled experiments by launching each model and measuring the distances flown. Data collected will be analyzed to determine the most effective design, fostering skills in observation, measurement, and data analysis. Through this hands-on activity, students will deepen their understanding of the scientific method and paper airplanes.

Introduction

Subjects: • Science • Engineering • Math

Time: 60-90 minutes

Skills: •Scientific Method • Critical thinking • Data collection • Measurement

Learning Objective/Goal:

• Students will understand the steps of the scientific method.
• Students will learn to collect, and interpret data.
• Students will be able to draw conclusions based on their experiments.

Materials Needed:

• Various types of paper (printer paper, construction paper, cardstock)
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Paper clips (for adding weight)
• Presentation and Worksheets to go with lesson (linked at the end)

The scientific method is a systematic way of learning about the world around us and solving problems. By testing different variables that affect the flight of paper airplanes, students can explore concepts of aerodynamics and understand how changes in design and materials can influence outcomes.

Introduction (15 minutes):

• Begin with a brief discussion of the scientific method. Introduce the steps: Question, Research, Hypothesis, Experiment, Analysis, and Conclusion.
• Explain the purpose of each step and why it is important
• Introduce the idea of testing what makes a paper airplane fly farther
• Mention to the students that science is not always linear and that the steps may not happen exactly in that order

Planning and brainstorming (15 minutes):

• Have the students order all the steps of the scientific method after the presentation is done.
• Use the first part of the worksheet to let them brainstorm and think about observations of how it flys, materials they could use, and what they plan on testing
• They can then begin to describe their procedure (using the fill-in-the-blanks provided or writing their own)

Conducting the Experiment (30 minutes):

• As the students make the airplanes and test them, have them record data in the provided table
• Consider having them do multiple trials for consistency

Reflection (10 minutes):

• Have students fill out the last section of the worksheet where they reflect on their findings
• Once finished have them share their findings with their neighbors

Tips for Students:

• Try to keep all the other variables the same except for the one you are testing
• Make sure the data collected is accurate

Tips for Teachers:

• Provide demonstrations of certain steps such as conducting the test and recording data
• This lesson can be adjusted to be very open where students can choose to investigate similar topics such as what makes an airplane fly high
• It can also be simpler and done as a class if needed

Extensions:

• Have students create bar graphs to represent their data visually.
• Make the procedure open-ended and have students write their own

Link to presentation

Link to worksheet

FREE K-12 standards-aligned STEM

curriculum for educators everywhere!

Find more at TeachEngineering.org .

• TeachEngineering
• Paper Airplanes: Building, Testing, & Improving. Heads Up!

Hands-on Activity Paper Airplanes: Building, Testing, & Improving. Heads Up!

Grade Level: 6 (5-7)

Time Required: 45 minutes

Expendable Cost/Group: US $1.00

Group Size: 1

Activity Dependency: None

Subject Areas: Physical Science

NGSS Performance Expectations:

Curriculum in this Unit Units serve as guides to a particular content or subject area. Nested under units are lessons (in purple) and hands-on activities (in blue). Note that not all lessons and activities will exist under a unit, and instead may exist as "standalone" curriculum.

• Fun with Bernoulli
• Air Pressure
• Windy Tunnel
• Bend That Bar
• Physics Tug of War
• Equal & Opposite Thrust in Aircraft: You’re a Pushover!
• What a Drag!
• Better By Design
• Let's Get It There Fast
• Balsa Glider Competition
• Design a Flying Machine

TE Newsletter

Engineering connection, learning objectives, materials list, worksheets and attachments, more curriculum like this, introduction/motivation, troubleshooting tips, activity extensions, activity scaling, additional multimedia support, user comments & tips.

Engineers often create small-size models of a new product to test its design. This is especially true with airplanes. Model testing tells engineers how a design responds to different air conditions and aircraft shapes, and lets them experiment with the control surfaces that are used to steer the aircraft. Using small models guides engineers to discard prototypes that do not work, which is a smarter option than than throwing away full-size (large and expensive to build) aircraft that do not work.

After this activity, students should be able to:

• Create a paper model of an airplane to use in experiments.
• Use their observations of paper airplane flight to explain flight.
• Find the average distance of flight trials.
• Explain how engineers often create small-size models of new products to test designs.

Educational Standards Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards. All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN) , a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org). In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g. , by state; within source by type; e.g. , science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc .

Ngss: next generation science standards - science.

Common Core State Standards - Math

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International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology

State standards, colorado - math, colorado - science.

Each student needs:

• 1 of the 4 paper airplane designs in the  Plane Patterns Handout and its associated  Plane Design Instructions ; vary designs among students
• Flight Distances Worksheet
• 1-2 sheets of 8.5 x 11" copy paper

For the class to share:

• tape measure and/or meter sticks, and/or use cones to mark every five feet
• stopwatch, or a watch with a second hand
• completed examples of each of the 4 paper airplane designs
• overhead projector to show the Plane Overhead Transparency  and Distance/Time Table .
• (optional) calculators

Paper airplanes are gliders. They have a main body, and generally two wings. Some are more complex, with tails, rudders and flaps. The wings compress the air below the paper airplane, creating high pressure, and thus the airplane is able to "sit" and glide on the air. Moving the rudders, ailerons, or flaps up or down can change the flight path of an airplane. For example, folding down the wing flaps can result in a nosedive and folding up the flaps can point the airplane in an upward direction. (Show the class an overhead transparency of the Blank Plane Diagram  and have students come up to the board and identify/label the various parts. See Figure 1 for the answers. For younger students, you may want to list the parts nearby from which they can choose.) 

Engineers start with designing and testing several different models of an airplane before they get the approval to build a real one. They typically must work under specific constraints or limits, including the purpose of the airplane. By testing different models of planes, engineers can determine which one is best for distance, speed and other factors.

Today, we are going to learn how to design some simple gliders and airplanes using paper. The class is going to design and build a few different models and determine which paper airplane is the best for distance.

Before the Activity

• Gather materials and make copies of the Flight Distances Worksheet .
• Make enough copies of the four different types of paper airplanes in the Plane Patterns Handout , and their instructions in the  Plane Design Instructions , one design per student.
• Make a few models of the four airplane designs to get a feel for how to make them and how they fly.
• Prepare an indoor (hallway, gym) or outdoor plane testing area—an unobstructed area to throw the planes and measure flight time and distances.
• Become familiar with the activity vocabulary. List new terms, such as "aileron" and "rudder," on a chart or the classroom board.
• Prepare overhead transparencies to show the class: Blank Plane Diagram  and Distance/Time Table .

With the Students

• Conduct the pre-activity assessment brainstorming, as described in the Assessment section.
• Present the Introduction/Motivation content to the class.
• Demonstrate one or two paper airplanes. Discuss and list on the board the airplane parts they may know about, and add any terms they do not know, such as "elevator" and "rudder."
• Then list factors they may know about that would affect flight (for example, plane shape, wing shape, weight, weight at the nose, tails, flaps, rudders, etc.).
• Explain that they will get to try several designs and see how they work. Hand out a variety of plane designs and their instructions, so each table/general area has an assortment. Give students time to work on the airplanes.
• Inform students on the method to measure flight distance and flight time, such as the following:
• Set out cones every five feet and have students estimate their flight distance based on the cones.
• Have students individually measure their flight distances using tape measures or meter sticks.
• Have students use a stopwatch to time how long their planes stay in the air.
• In the plane-testing area, have students test and gather data by performing three test flights with their first plane designs. Direct students to record all three flight distances on their worksheets.
• Hand out blank paper, and let students design and test a second airplane. Inform students that this second design should be their own, original design and entirely different from the first plane design that was provided to them.
• Have students test their second designs, again recording the distances and times.
• Have students compute on their worksheets the average flight times and distances for both plane designs.
• To conclude the activity, lead a class discussion. Make an effort to use the new airplane parts terminology. Question prompts:
• What did you learn?
• What changes did you make in your second airplane design and how did those changes affect the flight distance?
• Who's plane went farther than five feet? Farther than 10 feet? The farthest of all?
• Did certain designs go farther than others? Why?
• What were your flight times? What was the longest flight time?
• Did certain designs stay aloft longer than others? Why?
• Did you notice a relationship between average distance and average time? (Expect a weak relationship between time and distance since it is possible for a plane to fly straight up for a while but only travel a few feet forward.)
• To analyze the class data, first take a poll of the class to compile data counts to complete the Distance/Time Table  as an overhead transparency. Direct students to use the larger of their two averages from design 1 or design 2.  
• Using the class data, have students individually make bar graphs with number of students on the x-axis and distance on the y-axis. Which distance has the largest number of paper gliders that went that far?
• If time permits, as a class, determine who has the longest time average.

Pre-Activity Assessment

Brainstorming:  Before starting the activity, have students generate a number of possible ideas about the activity topic. Encourage wild ideas and discourage criticism of any ideas. Ask:

• What are all the different ways you can design a paper airplane?

Activity Embedded Assessment

Worksheet: Have students record on the  Flight Distances Worksheet  their flight distances and times for both plane designs. Review their data to assess their engagement and comprehension of the experimental testing process.

Post-Activity Assessment

Class Discussion: Ask students to list factors that they noticed affected their airplane model test flights. Record their answers on the board. Ask how they would change their designs if they had more time to work on them. Have them list some of the variables that affect flight (such as the weight of the plane's parts, wing shape, wing length, rudders, ailerons, plane length, etc.)

Pass the Buck:  In groups of four, have students brainstorm ideas to design the perfect paper airplane. First, assign one student in the group to be the recorder. Then have someone toss out an idea. Next, another person in the group provides an idea that builds on the first. Go around the group in this fashion until all students have put in enough ideas to put together a design. When they are done, have them share their ideas with the class.

Safety Issues

Provide a clear path for the airplanes to be thrown so that people are not be in the path of the paper airplanes.

Clarify to students when and where to fly the airplanes. Ideally, conduct the activity in a hallway, gym or outdoors. You may want to show them how to fold some of the trickier paper airplanes as a group before you let them try on their own.

If some students have dificulty folding the paper airplanes, ask other students who have mastered the process to help them.

Expect that some students already have experience with paper airplanes. Let them know that they will get a chance to demonstrate their favorite airplane design in a later lesson, but the purpose of this activity is to get some basic folding shapes down for the entire class. Or, ask them to do one of the provided patterns for their first trials and their own designs for the second trial. Then, have the students explain what changes were made to improve the plane for the second trial.

For extra math practice, have students create a line or bar graph of their individual plane trials.

Have students complete other challenges with their paper airplanes. Set up a mock landing pad, a target or a hoop to measure plane flight accuracy.

Check out kits for very cool paper airplanes; see https://www.amazon.com/Supercool-Paper-Airplanes-Kit-Instruction/dp/0804845727 .

• For younger students, keep it simple by limiting the designs to one paper airplane prototype design. And, it may be easier if you do not introduce the concept of control surfaces such as rudders and elevators. Also, complete the bar graph as a class or in small groups.
• For older students, encourage more complex models and manipulate them more. Encourage students to come up with their own unique paper airplane designs (even for the first plane design), and have them explain their designs to the class in terms of what they changed to improve flight.

A helpful NASA diagram shows the basic ariplane parts and their functions; see https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/airplane-parts-function/ .

Students are introduced to the art of designing airplanes through paper airplane constructions. The goal is for students to learn important aircraft design considerations and how engineers must iterate their designs to achieve success.

Students learn about airplane control surfaces on tails and wings, and engineering testing wherein one variable is changed while others are held constant. Through the associated activity, they compare the performance of a single paper airplane design while changing its shape, size and flap positions...

Students act as if they are engineers designing gliders, aiming to improve the flight distance and time in the air. This activity brings together students' knowledge of engineering and airplanes, applying what they have previously learned about lift, weight, thrust and drag to glider models, as well...

Students learn about kites and gliders and how these models can help in understanding the concept of flight. Then students move on to conduct the associated activity, during which teams design and build their own balsa wood glider models and experiment with different control surfaces, competing for ...

Paper Aircraft Association. Accessed 2004. http://www.topphotograph.dsl.pipex.com/paamain/index.html

Contributors

Supporting program, acknowledgements.

The contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under grants from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation (GK-12 grant no. 0338326). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Last modified: April 19, 2023

February 28, 2013

Soaring Science: Test Paper Planes with Different Drag

An aerodynamic activity from Science Buddies

By Science Buddies

Key concepts Aerodynamics Planes Forces Drag Physics

Introduction Have you ever wondered what makes a paper plane fly? Some paper planes clearly fly better than others. But why is this? One factor is the kind of design used to build the plane. In this activity you'll get to build a paper plane and change its basic design to see how this affects its flight. There's a lot of cool science in this activity, such as how forces act on a plane so it can fly. So get ready to start folding!

Background The forces that allow a paper plane to fly are the same ones that apply to real airplanes. A force is something that pushes or pulls on something else. When you throw a paper plane in the air, you are giving the plane a push to move forward. That push is a type of force called thrust. While the plane is flying forward, air moving over and under the wings is providing an upward lift force on the plane. At the same time, air pushing back against the plane is slowing it down, creating a drag force. The weight of the paper plane also affects its flight, as gravity pulls it down toward Earth. All of these forces (thrust, lift, drag and gravity) affect how well a given paper plane's voyage goes. In this activity you will increase how much drag a paper plane experiences and see if this changes how far the plane flies.

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Materials • Sheet of paper • Ruler • Scissors • Large open area in which to fly a paper plane, such as a long hallway, school gym or basketball court. If you're flying your paper plane outside, such as in a field, try to do it when there isn't any wind. • Something to make at least a one-foot-long line, such as a long string, another ruler, masking tape, rocks or sticks. • Paper clips (optional)

Preparation • Make a standard, "dart" design paper airplane (for instructions, go to the Amazing Paper Airplanes Web page ). • Fold your paper into the basic dart paper plane. Fold carefully and make your folds as sharp as possible, such as by running a thumbnail or a ruler along each fold to crease it. Do not bend up the tailing edge of the wings (step 6 of the online folding instructions). • Go to a large open area and, using string, a ruler, masking tape, rocks or sticks, make a line in front of you that's at least one foot long, going from left to right. This will be the starting line from which you'll fly the paper plane.

Procedure • Place your toe on the line you prepared and throw the paper plane. Did it fly very far? • Throw the plane at least four more times. Each time before you throw the plane, make sure it is still in good condition (that the folds and points are still sharp). When you toss it, place your toe on the line and try to launch the plane with a similar amount of force, including gripping it at the same spot. Did it go about the same distance each time? • Once you have a good idea of about how far your plane typically flies, change the plane’s shape to increase how much drag it experiences. To do this, cut slits that are about one inch long right where either wing meets the middle ridge. Fold up the cut section on both wings so that each now has a one-inch-wide section at the end of the wing that is folded up, at about a 90-degree angle from the rest of the wing. • Throw your modified paper plane at least five more times, just as you did before. How far does the paper plane fly now compared with before? Why do you think this is, and what does it have to do with drag? • Extra: Make paper planes that are different sizes and compare how well they fly. Do bigger planes fly farther? • Extra: Try making paper planes out of different types of paper, such as printer paper, construction paper and newspaper. Use the same design for each. Does one type of paper seem to work best for making paper planes? Does one type work the worst? • Extra: Some people like to add paper clips to their paper planes to make them fly better. Try adding a paper clip (or multiple paper clips) to different parts of your paper plane (such as the front, back, middle or wings) and then flying it. How does this affect the plane's flight? Does adding paper clips somewhere make its flight better or much worse? Observations and results Did the original plane fly the farthest? Did the plane with increased drag fly a much shorter distance?

As a paper plane moves through the air, the air pushes against the plane, slowing it down. This force is called drag. To think about drag, imagine you are in a moving car and you put your hand out the window. The force of the air pushing your hand back as you move forward is drag, also sometimes referred to as air resistance. In this activity you increased how much drag acted on the paper plane by making a one-inch-high vertical strip on both wings. For example, this is what happens when you're in a moving car with your hand out the window and you change its position from horizontal to vertical. When your hand is held out vertically, it catches a greater amount of air and experiences a greater drag than when it is horizontal. You could probably feel this, as your hand would be more forcefully pushed back as the car moves forward. This is what happened to the modified plane—it experienced a greater amount of drag, which pushed it back more than the original plane. This experiment has clearly demonstrated that altering how just one force acts on a paper plane can dramatically change how well it flies.

Cleanup Recycle the paper plane when you are done with it.

More to explore Dynamics of Flight: Forces of Flight , from NASA What Makes Paper Airplanes Fly? , from Scholastic Forces of Flight—Drag , from The Franklin Institute How Far Will It Fly? Build and Test Various Paper Planes , from Science Buddies

This activity brought to you in partnership with  Science Buddies

Friday, August 30, 2013

Paper airplane contest teaching variables.

• We need to know what the purpose of the contest is, ie. how to we determine a winner? {distance}
• Everyone needs to have the same type of rubber band
• We need to use the same type of measurement to measure the distance traveled for each person
• Everyone needs to shoot the rubber band the same way{we aren't measuring what technique shoots the rubber band the farthest, we are measuring who shoots the rubber band the farthest}
• Using the same unit of measurement to measure the distance flown
• Everyone must hold the plane the same way when throwing the airplane
• We need to have a large space with no wind {because the wind might have an effect on how far the planes are thrown.}

3 comments:

Hello, Not sure if you run this blog, but I am seeking the correct link for the site to the plane activity. This one doesn't work. Thanks, Marlo

I had the same issue. This link worked for me: http://srel.uga.edu/outreach/kidsdoscience/kidsdoscience-airplanes.htm

Thanks! This is awesome

How Does Wingspan Affect Flight Distance?

Science project done by a student who is visually impaired to explore how wingspan affects flight distance..

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This science project was done by Darren, who is a student at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI).

Darren became interested in aviation and airplanes while attending Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired in the fall of 2014. He attended the Aviation Challenge camp and was fascinated by all he learned about planes.  He so enjoyed the camp that he based his science project on planes and plans to attend SCIVIS again this year. ( http://www.scivis.org/ )

The Best Paper Plane To Fly

When you are doing your project you must come up with what you are changing.  In our experiment the wingspan will be the independent variable.  The dependent variable is the distance the plane flies.

• paper for airplanes
• braille ruler
• trundle wheel

Preparation

Darren researched his question and contacted an aviation expert he knew from Space Camp.  This was his e-mail to her:

“Hello this is Darren. I am doing a science project to determine how paper-plane wing span affects flight distance. Jim Alan suggested I consult with you as an aerodynamics expert. Our plan is to design paper aeroplanes with variable wing span and launch it from a paper aeroplane launcher. We will Measure the distance of flight and identify the optimal wingspan. Do you think the wingspan can affect the plane’s flight, and if so how?”

This was her response:

“Yes, wingspan will affect flight, however there will be a point where the size of the wingspan will create too much weight and drag to be effective.  For a glider, which a paper airplane is the more lift the glider has the longer it can fly. However, you must keep the weight and drag in check to avoid flight failure.”

Question  

Step 1.  Make sure you know what you are going to change.

I will be changing the wing size. This is the independent variable.

Step 2.  Hypothesis: What is your thought of which plane is going to fly farther?

I think that the plane with the same wingspan and body length will fly farthest.  This is probably a wingspan that will be the best to fly the plane. 

Procedure:  

Step 3.  Get the things you will need for this project like:

• Paper to build the planes
• A ruler to measure the wingspan and body length of the planes
• Something to fly the plane. I considered using an airplane launcher, but this didn’t work well. I chose to launch the planes myself, but in order to decrease error, I launched each airplane ten times and averaged the distances.
• Use something to measure the distance the plane flies such as a trundle wheel or measuring tape.  I will use a trundle wheel.

Experiment:

Step 4.  Fly the planes. Two of each plane will be built and each plane will be flown 10 times so that the results will be more accurate. 

Results/Conclusion:

Step 5 Write all of the measurements and see if your hypothesis is right.

Data: 

Body Length/ Wingspan                                           Average flight distance

8.5 cm/   2.5 cm      Ratio – 3.4                                              9.225 m

7 cm /  4 cm            Ratio – 1.75                                            9.25 m

5.5 cm/ 5.5 cm        Ratio   – 1                                                 9.5 m

4 cm / 7 cm             Ration – .57                                            7.65 m

2.5 cm / 8. 5cm       Ratio – .29                                               6.875 m

NGSS Standards:

• Plan and conduct an investigation individually and collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence, and in the design: decide on types, how much, and accuracy of data needed to produce reliable measurements and consider limitations on the precision of the data (e.g., number of trials, cost, risk, time), and refine the design accordingly. (HS-ESS2-5)

By Laura Hospitál

Return to Accessible Science main page .

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My riverside rapid digital portfolio, scientific method and paper airplanes.

During this lab, my partner and I tested 3 different paper airplane styles to determine which one can fly the farthest. We chose Nick’s Paper Airplane, Takuo Toda’s Paper Airplane and Pete’s Paper Airplane (or the classic dart). Because we only used one piece of 8×11 paper for each paper airplane, the controlled variable was the plane’s weight and the size of the paper used. Our independent variable was the style (and the weight on the nose and tail based on the style) and the paper airplane’s wingspan. Our dependant variable was the distance the airplane flew.

The Takuo Tado paper airplane has the widest wingspan of 12.5cm. The second widest wingspan was Nick’s paper airplane with a wingspan of 11.5cm, and the Classic Dart (or Pete’s airplane) has the smallest wingspan of 11cm.

We had a hypothesis that the Takuo Toda style would fly the greatest distance since the plane’s nose is quite heavy and tail is not that heavy, so it’s heavy enough to create a drag. We also believed that the wider the wingspan, the shorter the distance of the flight would be. Our hypothesis was partly accepted by the data obtained from our experiment.

The data that we collected through the trails proved that the Classic Dart was in fact the style with the largest average flying distance with an average of 7.17m. The Takuo Toda style placed second with an average flying distance of 6.62m, and Nick’s style placed last with an average distance of 6.26.

Even though the Takuo Toda plane did not fly the longest distance, it did fly the second greatest distance since it had a heavier nose which aided it to travel a greater distance than Nick’s style, which had a shorter wingspan. Our hypothesis was partially accepted because the winner was the Classic Dart paper airplane design, the one with the shortest wingspan.

The Classic Dart paper airplane, Nick’s paper airplane, and Takuo Toda’s paper airplane.

If we were to do this experiment again, our procedure could be improved by conducting more trials to get more accurate data because the results of each throw varied quite a lot. We could also look at the ratios of the whole paper airplane and the different folds we made for a more precise wingspan estimate by using ratios since we did falsely estimate the different wingspans. Some questions that we thought of at the end were “Why were our results so different in each throw?”, “What caused the airplanes to go in certain directions?”, and “How could we find an optimal balance between the weight of the nose and tail?”.

During this lab, I learned many things. For example, I further developed my ability to write a hypothesis, observations, procedure, and conclusions. I also realized how important it is to be consistent with the way a test trial and experiment is conducted so that you obtain accurate data and the correct outcome.

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Fiu@home: create a paper airplane.

Written by Education Outreach April 8, 2021

From Leonardo Davinci to the Wright brothers, paper has been truly instrumental to learning how to get objects to fly. Beginning with the Chinese – the creators of modern paper – the art of the paper airplane, like all origami, has hinged on the balance of design – from the weight and texture of the material used to how it is folded.

Nearly everyone makes a paper airplane at some point. It’s an easy and accessible entry to the world of engineering design and experimentation. Testing different approaches even at the smallest scale gives insights into the physics of flight.

PAPER CHASE

Material matters when designing a plane. The density and weight impact the force of energy needed to further extend its flight before the force of gravity pulls it back to Earth. When engineers develop new airplanes, they have to consider everything from the type of cargo it will carry to changes in temperature and pressure.

Use the guide below to test five different airplane models with similar but contrasting materials while collecting evidence on which works best and why.

The items needed for this experiment are:

• Downloadable Create Paper Airplanes Activity Guide
• Printer paper
• Construction paper
• Magazine paper
• Heavy card stock paper (check office supply stores)
• Writing utensil

Paper wings? Located in Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, a prototype flying machine model from the Wright Brothers hangs from the ceiling.

EXPERIMENT GUIDE

This experiment asks the question: Will a paper airplane fly with any type of paper?

Step 1: Cut each material so all are the same size Take the materials and measure out an 8’’ by 8’’ square with a ruler then mark each with your pencil. Safely cut the printer, wax, magazine, construction paper and aluminum foil with scissors.

Step 2: Fold paper airplanes Follow the folding guide in your experiment data sheet for each of the five different materials. Lay them all next to each other.

Step 3: Make a Hypothesis A hypothesis is an educated guess. Looking at your five different airplanes, which do you think will be the most successful? The least successful? Why? Input your hypotheses in the table labeled “Step 3: Make a Hypothesis” found in the downloadable data sheet and rank accordingly.

Step 4: Observe Now is the fun part! Fly each of your planes. To keep it consistent try to launch each with the same amount of power from the same location. Now observe what happened. Measure from the starting point to the landing spot. Rank them from farthest to shortest distance in the table referenced above.

Step 5: Communicate Results So what happened? Do you think your results were similar or different to others?

Learn more about the principles of physics (lift, drag, gravity and thrust) by comparing and contrasting to others who performed this experiment by posting online!

Every person takes a unique approach, in this case both artistic and scientific, so let’s see what you built and which worked the best for you. Share images and videos with us on social media @FIUCASE.

The great thing about experiments is they never really end. There are many ways to repeat while introducing new variables to shift the focus of the question. Instead of types of materials, test different sizes, shapes or folding techniques.

Really want to launch design thinking skills? Try out another FIU@Home activity with the help of our staff and other campers in our virtual Camp Inspire .

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Scientists experiment with paper planes to study aerodynamics, flight stability

The properties that make a paper airplane fly have much to tell scientists about aerodynamics and flight stability, according to U.S. National Science Foundation grantee researchers at New York University . They conducted a series of experiments using paper planes to make their conclusions.

The research could influence the development of airborne vehicles like drones. The team's research was published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics .

"The study started with simple curiosity about what makes a good paper airplane and specifically what is needed for smooth gliding," said Leif Ristroph, an author of the study. "Answering such basic questions ended up being far from child's play. We discovered that the aerodynamics of how paper airplanes keep level flight is very different from the stability of conventional airplanes."

Paper planes rely on gravity and proper design to successfully glide.

"Birds glide and soar in an effortless way, and paper airplanes, when tuned properly, can also glide for long distances," added co-author Jane Wang. "Surprisingly, there has been no good mathematical model for predicting this seemingly simple but subtle gliding flight."

Paper planes appear unassuming in design and composition, "But paper airplanes, while simple to make, involve surprisingly complex aerodynamics," said Ristroph.

The researchers launched paper planes with different centers of mass, observed paper planes descending into a water tank, and used the data to develop a new aerodynamic model and flight simulator that successfully replicates flight motions.

"The key criterion of a successful glider is that the center of mass must be in the 'just right' place," Ristroph said. "Good paper airplanes achieve this with the front edge folded over several times or by an added paper clip, which requires a little trial and error. The location of the aerodynamic force or center of pressure varies with the angle of flight to ensure stability."

The effect the team found in paper airplanes doesn't happen in the traditional airfoils used as aircraft wings, whose center of pressure stays fixed in place across the angles that occur in flight, according to Ristroph. "The shifting of the center of pressure seems to be a unique property of thin, flat wings, and this ends up being the secret to the stable flight of paper airplanes."

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What is a constant and a variable in a paper airplane experiment?

An experimental constant is a parameter of an experiment that doesn't change throughout the course of the experiment.

Launch height could be a constant in a glide ratio experiment featuring several paper airplanes.

the type of paper being used

the person throwing the paper airplaine

the size the paper has been cut to if it has been cut

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On the eleventh day of Christmas —

Experiments with paper airplanes reveal surprisingly complex aerodynamics, how these gliders keep level flight is different from the stability of airplanes..

Jennifer Ouellette - Jan 4, 2023 10:06 pm UTC

Drop a flat piece of paper and it will flutter and tumble through the air as it falls, but a well-fashioned paper airplane will glide smoothly. Although these structures look simple, their aerodynamics are surprisingly complex. Researchers at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences conducted a series of experiments involving paper airplanes to explore this transition and develop a mathematical model to predict flight stability, according to a March paper published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics.

“The study started with simple curiosity about what makes a good paper airplane and specifically what is needed for smooth gliding," said co-author Leif Ristroph . "Answering such basic questions ended up being far from child’s play. We discovered that the aerodynamics of how paper airplanes keep level flight is really very different from the stability of conventional airplanes.”

Nobody knows who invented the first paper airplane, but China began making paper on a large scale around 500 BCE, with the emergence of origami and paper-folding as a popular art form between 460 and 390 BCE. Paper airplanes have long been studied as a means of learning more about the aerodynamics of flight. For instance, Leonardo da Vinci famously built a model plane out of parchment while dreaming up flying machines and used paper models to test his design for an ornithopter. In the 19th century, British engineer and inventor Sir George Cayley —sometimes called the "father of aviation"—studied the gliding performance of paper airplanes to design a glider capable of carrying a human.

An amusing "scientist playing with paper planes" anecdote comes from physicist Theodore von Kármán . In his 1967 memoir The Wind and Beyond , he recalled a formal 1924 banquet in Delft, The Netherlands, where fellow physicist Ludwig Prandtl constructed a paper airplane out of a menu to demonstrate the mechanics of flight to von Kármán's sister, who was seated next to him. When he threw the paper plane, "It landed on the shirtfront of the French minister of education, much to the embarrassment of my sister and others at the banquet," von Kármán wrote.

While scientists have clearly made great strides in aerodynamics—particularly about aircraft—Ristroph et al . noted that there was not a good mathematical model for predicting the simpler, subtler gliding flight of paper airplanes. It was already well-known that displacing the center of mass results in various flight trajectories, some more stable than others. “The key criterion of a successful glider is that the center of mass must be in the ‘just right’ place,” said Ristroph . “Good paper airplanes achieve this with the front edge folded over several times or by an added paper clip, which requires a little trial and error.”

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For New Insights into Aerodynamics, Scientists Turn to Paper Airplanes

A series of experiments using paper airplanes reveals new aerodynamic effects--findings that enhance our understanding of flight stability.

Findings Unveil Mechanisms that Explain Flight Stability

A series of experiments using paper airplanes reveals new aerodynamic effects, a team of scientists has discovered. Its findings enhance our understanding of flight stability and could inspire new types of flying robots and small drones.

“The study started with simple curiosity about what makes a good paper airplane and specifically what is needed for smooth gliding,” explains Leif Ristroph, an associate professor at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and an author of the study , which appears in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics . “Answering such basic questions ended up being far from child’s play. We discovered that the aerodynamics of how paper airplanes keep level flight is really very different from the stability of conventional airplanes.”

“Birds glide and soar in an effortless way, and paper airplanes, when tuned properly, can also glide for long distances,” adds author Jane Wang, a professor of engineering and physics at Cornell University. “Surprisingly, there has been no good mathematical model for predicting this seemingly simple but subtle gliding flight.”

Since we can make complicated modern airplanes fly, the researchers say, one might think we know all there is to know about the simplest flying machines. 

“But paper airplanes, while simple to make, involve surprisingly complex aerodynamics,” notes Ristroph.

The paper’s authors began their study by considering what is needed for a plane to glide smoothly. Since paper airplanes have no engine and rely on gravity and proper design for their movement, they are good candidates for exploring factors behind flight stability.

To investigate this phenomenon, the researchers conducted lab experiments by launching paper airplanes with differing centers of mass through the air. The results, along with those from studying plates falling in a water tank, allowed the team to devise a new aerodynamic model and also a “flight simulator” capable of predicting the motions.

A video and image showing the experimental results may be downloaded from Google Drive .

To find the best design, the researchers placed different amounts of thin copper tape on the front part of the paper planes, giving them varied center of mass locations. Lead weights added to the plates in water served the same purpose.

“The key criterion of a successful glider is that the center of mass must be in the ‘just right’ place,” Ristroph explains. “Good paper airplanes achieve this with the front edge folded over several times or by an added paper clip, which requires a little trial and error.”

In the experiments, the researchers found that the flight motions depended sensitively on the center of mass location. Specifically, if the weight was at the center of the wing or only displaced somewhat from the middle, it underwent wild motions, such as fluttering or tumbling. If the weight was displaced too far toward one edge, then the flier quickly dove downwards and crashed. In between, however, there was a “sweet spot” for the center of mass that gave stable gliding.

The researchers coupled the experimental work with a mathematical model that served as the basis of a “flight simulator,” a computer program that successfully reproduced the different flight motions. It also helped explain why a paper airplane is stable in its glide. When the center of mass is in the “sweet spot,” the aerodynamic force on the plane’s wing pushes the wing back down if the plane moves upward and back up if it moves downward.

“The location of the aerodynamic force or center of pressure varies with the angle of flight in such a way to ensure stability,” explains Ristroph. 

He notes that this dynamic does not occur with conventional aircraft wings, which are airfoils—structures whose shapes work to generate lift. 

“The effect we found in paper airplanes does not happen for the traditional airfoils used as aircraft wings, whose center of pressure stays fixed in place across the angles that occur in flight,” Ristroph says. “The shifting of the center of pressure thus seems to be a unique property of thin, flat wings, and this ends up being the secret to the stable flight of paper airplanes.”

“This is why airplanes need a separate tail wing as a stabilizer while a paper plane can get away with just a main wing that gives both lift and stability,” he concludes. “We hope that our findings will be useful in small-scale flight applications, where you may want a minimal design that does not require a lot of extra flight surfaces, sensors, and controllers.”

The paper’s other authors were Huilin Li, a doctoral candidate at NYU Shanghai, and Tristan Goodwill, a doctoral candidate at the Courant Institute’s Department of Mathematics.

The work was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (DMS-1847955, DMS-1646339).

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