Learn how to create your own paper airplane and analyze data with this fun experiment.
Materials:
- Sheets of 8.5”x11” paper
- Timer/Stop watch
- Tape measure
- Ruler
- Markers, stickers for decoration
- Trial Handout – download PDF here
Discussion questions:
What part of an airplane helps it fly?
First, you will need to create a variety of different airplanes in different shapes. (There is an on demand paper airplane activity available, if you would like)
ACTIVITY:
- Find an open area to fly your paper airplanes.
- Record the name of each design on the table below.
- Measure and record your airplane’s wings and any add on decorations.
- Fly each design exactly three times. Each time make sure to
- a) Time its flight to see how long the plane is in the air.
- b) Record the time on the table
After you’ve recorded your results, we must now draw conclusions.
Which design stayed in flight the longest?
What characteristics does that plane have?
Are its wings wide or narrow?
Which stayed in flight the shortest?
What characteristics does that plane have?
Are its wings wide or narrow?
You may notice that the paper airplane with larger wings was the one that stayed in the air longer. But also, the one with larger wings did not fly as far. There are other factors or forces that affect a paper airplane’s flight. Larger wings do allow the paper airplane to stay in the air for longer time, but they also create drag that prevents it from going far.