Learning Library
Who we are
Guidance

# Paper Airplanes

(280 ratings )
Less than \$5.00
None

##### Approximate Time Required to Complete the Project

One to two hours to make the paper airplanes and collect the data; one day to prepare the science fair display.

To understand forces that cause paper airplanes to fly and determine which type of paper airplane flies the farthest.

• Directions for making paper airplanes
• Paper
• Tape
• Measuring tape
• Calculator

Four forces are at work to make an airplane fly: weight, lift, thrust, and drag. Weight pulls the airplane down. Lift pulls the airplane up. Thrust moves the airplane forward. Drag pulls the airplane back. The same concepts that allow a commercial airplane to fly, cause a paper airplane to fly.

In this investigation, weight, lift, thrust, and drag are considered in an effort to determine which paper airplane flies the farthest.

##### Terms

weight:gravitational force; the force that causes an aircraft to go down

lift: the force that causes an aircraft to lift

thrust: the force that causes an aircraft to move forward

drag: the force that causes an aircraft to pull back

##### Concepts

Weight, lift, thrust, and drag affect the flight of airplanes as well as paper airplanes.

##### Research Questions
• What makes paper airplanes fly?
• Does changing the way a paper airplane is folded, have an affect on the distance it flies?
1. Locate directions for making three different types of paper airplanes. Some suggested resources are provided in the bibliography.
2. Gather the necessary materials.
3. Fold the three different paper airplanes according to the directions?
4. Determine an indoor location such as a gymnasium or auditorium to fly the planes. Flying the planes inside will keep the wind from being a factor.
5. Use masking tape to mark a starting point on the floor.
6. Throw each plane four times. Measure the distance each plane flew and record the distances. Use a calculator to add the distances each airplane flew and divide by four to find the average distance.
##### Books

Blackburn, Ken and Jeff Lammers. The World Record Paper Airplane Book. New York: Workman Publishing, 1994.

##### Articles

“Alex’s Paper Airplanes” at www.paperairplanes.co.uk

“Learn How to Make 10 Great Paper Airplane Designs with Free, Easy-to-Follow Animated Instructions!” at www.10paperairplanes.com

“The Science of Flight” at www.yesmag.ca/focus/flight/flight_science.html

##### Websites

“Flight” at pbskids.org

“The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age” at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum website at www.nasm.si.edu/wrightbrothers

Disclaimer and Safety Precautions

Education.com provides the Science Fair Project Ideas for informational purposes only. Education.com does not make any guarantee or representation regarding the Science Fair Project Ideas and is not responsible or liable for any loss or damage, directly or indirectly, caused by your use of such information. By accessing the Science Fair Project Ideas, you waive and renounce any claims against Education.com that arise thereof. In addition, your access to Education.com's website and Science Fair Project Ideas is covered by Education.com's Privacy Policy and site Terms of Use, which include limitations on Education.com's liability.

Warning is hereby given that not all Project Ideas are appropriate for all individuals or in all circumstances. Implementation of any Science Project Idea should be undertaken only in appropriate settings and with appropriate parental or other supervision. Reading and following the safety precautions of all materials used in a project is the sole responsibility of each individual. For further information, consult your state's handbook of Science Safety.

What could we do to improve Education.com?
The text passage describes a science project about paper airplanes, including the purpose, materials, procedure, and research questions. It does not contain any specific mathematical questions or answers.
no_question
Given a text passage, determine:
    1. If it contains a mathematical question (including word problems or calculations)
    2. If an answer to that mathematical question is provided in the text

First, describe the content structure you found in 1-2 sentences.

Then provide your analysis in the following format:
TYPE: <one of the following values>
- NO_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION_WITH_ANSWER
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS_WITH_ANSWERS
system
Learning Library
Who we are
Guidance

# Paper Airplanes

(280 ratings )
Less than \$5.00
None

##### Approximate Time Required to Complete the Project

One to two hours to make the paper airplanes and collect the data; one day to prepare the science fair display.

To understand forces that cause paper airplanes to fly and determine which type of paper airplane flies the farthest.

• Directions for making paper airplanes
• Paper
• Tape
• Measuring tape
• Calculator

Four forces are at work to make an airplane fly: weight, lift, thrust, and drag. Weight pulls the airplane down. Lift pulls the airplane up. Thrust moves the airplane forward. Drag pulls the airplane back. The same concepts that allow a commercial airplane to fly, cause a paper airplane to fly.

In this investigation, weight, lift, thrust, and drag are considered in an effort to determine which paper airplane flies the farthest.

##### Terms

weight:gravitational force; the force that causes an aircraft to go down

lift: the force that causes an aircraft to lift

thrust: the force that causes an aircraft to move forward

drag: the force that causes an aircraft to pull back

##### Concepts

Weight, lift, thrust, and drag affect the flight of airplanes as well as paper airplanes.

##### Research Questions
• What makes paper airplanes fly?
• Does changing the way a paper airplane is folded, have an affect on the distance it flies?
1. Locate directions for making three different types of paper airplanes. Some suggested resources are provided in the bibliography.
2. Gather the necessary materials.
3. Fold the three different paper airplanes according to the directions?
4. Determine an indoor location such as a gymnasium or auditorium to fly the planes. Flying the planes inside will keep the wind from being a factor.
5. Use masking tape to mark a starting point on the floor.
6. Throw each plane four times. Measure the distance each plane flew and record the distances. Use a calculator to add the distances each airplane flew and divide by four to find the average distance.
##### Books

Blackburn, Ken and Jeff Lammers. The World Record Paper Airplane Book. New York: Workman Publishing, 1994.

##### Articles

“Alex’s Paper Airplanes” at www.paperairplanes.co.uk

“Learn How to Make 10 Great Paper Airplane Designs with Free, Easy-to-Follow Animated Instructions!” at www.10paperairplanes.com

“The Science of Flight” at www.yesmag.ca/focus/flight/flight_science.html

##### Websites

“Flight” at pbskids.org

“The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age” at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum website at www.nasm.si.edu/wrightbrothers

Disclaimer and Safety Precautions

Education.com provides the Science Fair Project Ideas for informational purposes only. Education.com does not make any guarantee or representation regarding the Science Fair Project Ideas and is not responsible or liable for any loss or damage, directly or indirectly, caused by your use of such information. By accessing the Science Fair Project Ideas, you waive and renounce any claims against Education.com that arise thereof. In addition, your access to Education.com's website and Science Fair Project Ideas is covered by Education.com's Privacy Policy and site Terms of Use, which include limitations on Education.com's liability.

Warning is hereby given that not all Project Ideas are appropriate for all individuals or in all circumstances. Implementation of any Science Project Idea should be undertaken only in appropriate settings and with appropriate parental or other supervision. Reading and following the safety precautions of all materials used in a project is the sole responsibility of each individual. For further information, consult your state's handbook of Science Safety.

What could we do to improve Education.com?
user
The text passage describes a science project about paper airplanes, including the purpose, materials, procedure, and research questions. It does not contain any specific mathematical questions or answers.

TYPE: NO_QUESTION