What it shows
A paper plane flies by gliding: its wings make lift and the nose is pushed forward by the throw, while drag slows it. Different shapes trade speed for glide time.
The science
As the plane moves forward air flows over the wings and is pushed downward, so the wings are pushed upward; this is lift. A narrow dart has small drag and flies far and fast, but a wide-wing glider has more lift and stays up longer. Too much weight at the nose makes it dive, and too little makes it stall.
Materials
Cost: free. Many items come from home or from waste; spare parts such as LEDs, motors and wire are in the store.
- Ten sheets of A4 paper of the same type
- A measuring tape
- A stopwatch
- A paper clip for the nose weight
- A notebook
- An open hallway or a field
Safety
For this project: Throw only along an empty hall or field and never towards people’s faces.
Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.
All the safety rulesStep by step
8 steps. Do them in order, and test each part before you go on to the next. Write what you notice in a notebook as you go.
Fold three designs: a pointed dart, a wide-wing glider and a design of your own.
Make each from the same kind of paper and tape the wings flat, so they are even on both sides.
Mark a throwing line and fix a tape measure along the floor.
Throw each plane gently with the same force five times from the same height.
Measure the distance from the line to the landing spot and time the flight.
Record every throw in a table and find the average distance and time for each design.
Add a paper clip to the nose and test again to see how it changes the flight.
Draw two bar graphs, one for distance and one for time, and choose the best design.
What you should see
The dart flies farthest while the wide-wing glider stays in the air longer. Adding a little nose weight helps up to a point.
Viva questions
A teacher or a judge will ask how it works. Try to answer each question before you open it, then compare.
1What is lift?
The upward force on a wing as air flows over it.
2Why does the dart fly farther?
It has less drag.
3Why test five throws?
The hand throw varies, so an average is fairer.
4What is the force that slows the plane?
Air drag.
Take it further
Bend the back edge of the wings up or down and explain how it changes the flight path.
Change one thing, measure what happens, and add a table or chart of your readings: that is what turns a model into your own investigation.
Free ebooks for this project
Science projects
Physics Working Models Explained
Twenty classic models, how each works and how to make it
Science projects
Easy Science Projects for Class 1 to 5
Simple, safe projects young children can make with a little help