What it shows
Wing shape and fold change how far a plane flies. A fair test means launching each plane the same way and measuring the distance.
The science
A plane glides because air flows over its wings and pushes it up as it moves forward. Gravity pulls it down. A narrow pointed plane has little drag and goes far in a straight line. A wide plane has more lift and stays up for longer but may not go as far. A fair test needs the same paper and the same launch.
Materials
Cost: free. Many items come from home or from waste; spare parts such as LEDs, motors and wire are in the store.
- Six sheets of the same paper
- A measuring tape
- Chalk to mark a start line
- Paper and pencil
- A friend to help
Safety
For this project: Throw planes only in an open room or ground with nobody in front. Never throw at 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 different designs, such as a dart, a wide wing and a fat wing, from the same paper.
Mark a start line with chalk on the floor or ground.
Throw the dart gently with the same force and note where it lands.
Measure the distance from the line to the landing point.
Repeat three times and write all numbers.
Do the same for the other two designs.
Find the average distance for each design.
Make a bar chart and name the winner.
What you should see
The dart design usually goes farthest in a straight line while wider planes glide longer but slower.
Viva questions
A teacher or a judge will ask how it works. Try to answer each question before you open it, then compare.
1What keeps the plane in the air?
Air flowing over its wings.
2Why throw three times?
To get a fair average.
3What did you keep the same?
The paper and the way of throwing.
4Which design won?
Read from your chart.
Take it further
Bend the back edges of the wings up and down and see how the flight changes.
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
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