PAPER AIRPLANE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT QUESTION How does

PAPER AIRPLANE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

QUESTION How does the design of the paper airplane affect the length of the flight?

BACKGROUND RESEARCH What affects an airplane’s flight? The four forces weight, drag, lift, and thrust affect the airplane’s flight. Weight is the force that pushes down on the plane. Weight affects the plane because it pulls the plane down. Drag is the force that pulls the plane back. Drag affects the plane because it slows the plane down. Lift is the force that pulls the plane up. Lift affects the plane because it acts against weight and lifts the plane up. Thrust is the force that pulls the plane forward. Thrust affects the plane because it fights against drag by pulling the plane forward. The four forces are what affects the plane’s flight.

HYPOTHESIS If the design of the paper airplane is changed, then the distance of the flight will be affected.

MATERIALS Paper(8. 5 x 11) o Pencil o Airplane Design o Scissors o Meter Stick o

Procedure 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Determine airplane design shape, paper weight, and wing length from research. Create one paper airplane. Partner one launches airplane one. Partner 2 measures length of flight in centimeters. Partner 3 records length. Repeat step three times. Compared data with another group with a different airplane design.

RESULTS The paper airplanes that were made flew different distances in the experiment. Airplane one flew 925 cm in the first flight. On the second flight of airplane one flew 1200 cm. Airplane one flew 1580 cm on the third flight. Airplane two flew 1000 cm for the first flight. On the second flight, airplane two flew 1350 cm. Airplane two flew 1200 cm on the third flight. The paper airplanes distance’s were a little different.

GRAPH AIRPLANE DISTANCES IN CENTIMETERS 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3 AIRPLANE 1 AIRPLANE 2 AVERAGE

CONCLUSION Although the distances varied, on average airplane one flew further. This happened because airplane one was more like a glider. Airplane two was like a arrowhead. Airplane one created more thrust. It created more thrust because the wind glided the plane. Airplane two created more drag. It created more drag because the wind blew the plane the wrong way. Airplane two won against airplane one in the first and second trial. Airplane one got the furthest distance in trial three and in all.

FUTURE RESEARCH What type of plane can carry the most weight?

RESOURCES • Brain Pop/Flight • Alex Deahr • How do airplanes fly by Dr. Hany Farid • Bill Nye The Science Guy Flight