the perfect paper airplane
TRANSCRIPT
THE PERFECT PAPER AIRPLANEStaci Reynolds
IS THERE SUCH A THING AS THE “PERFECT” PAPER AIRPLANE?
• Designs: longer and balanced planes will fly further. Planes that are shorter and heavier in the front will hardly fly.
• Aerodynamics: needs to have a little drag and be light enough to defy gravity. Also uses lift and thrust.
• Lift – Occurs when air flows underneath a curved surface, like an airplane wing.
• Thrust – Makes the airplane move forward. Created by engines, or in the case of paper airplanes, thrust is created when you throw the plane.
• Gravity – The force pulling the airplane to the ground. Works against lift.
• Drag – Slow the airplane down. Produced when air creates friction against the airplane.
http://www.archives.alabama.gov/activity/principles_of_Flight.pdf
HYPOTHESIS
• I do not believe there is one right way to make a paper airplane. There are many different designs that have pros and cons. Some designs are better than others, but I don’t believe there is one superior paper airplane.
• Picking the most likely to succeed: Number 4
• Why? It looks the most aerodynamic because of the point in the front.
PROCESS
• Step 1: Make the planes.
• Step 2: Set up the area.
• Tape the starting point where you’re throwing from.
• Optional: Pre-measure the floor in one-foot increments.
• Beware of cats…
PROCESS CONT.
• Step 3: Throw the planes and record the evidence.
• When throwing, I put the plane next to my ear, and push forward. I did not wind up, and I extended my arm forward and released.
• Record where the plane first makes contact with the floor.
• I threw the planes 8 times per plane.
• Step 4: Record the evidence in a way that is easy to present.
• Step 5: Analyze the evidence for patterns.
MATERIALS
• Computer with internet access.
• Many pieces of white 8.5x11 pieces of paper.
• Tape (to mark line to throw from).
• Tape measure to record distance from tape to where planes land.
• Pen and chart to record evidence.
• Phone to take pictures.
MAKING THE PLANES
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/09/16/how-to-make-the-
worlds-best-paper-airplanes/
http://www.foldnfly.com/#/1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2
(From the left)
Shark
Hammer
Slick
Number 4
Bulldog Dart
SHARK• Average of 3.8375 ft.
HAMMER
• Average of 12.9625 ft.
SLICK • Average of 10.225 ft.
NUMBER 4• Average of 4.5875 ft.
BULLDOG DART• Average of 9.75 ft.
THE RESULTS
Shark Hammer Slick Number 4 Bulldog Dart
1 6 9.5 13.8 11 9
2 3 14.4 8 0 10
3 2.4 11.5 10 2.5 9.5
4 5 15.8 10 3.5 10
5 5.5 10 11 6.7 11.5
6 2.8 16 9 3.5 9
7 2.2 12.5 12 5 8.5
8 3.8 14 8 4.5 10.5
Avg. 3.8375 12.9625 10.225 4.5875 9.75
THE RESULTS CONT.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Paper Airplane Flights
Series1 Series2 Series3 Series4 Series5
Red: Shark
Green: Number 4
Blue: Bulldog Dart
Orange: Hammer
Yellow: Slick
PATTERNS
• The three planes that did the best were Hammer, Slick, and Bulldog Dart.
• I believe these planes did well because their aerodynamic characteristics allowed them to cut through the air with more ease than the other two.
• The two planes that did the worst were Number 4 and Shark according to the averages and the line graph.
• I think this is because these planes had large, spanning wings that did not fly well against the air. These planes were not very aerodynamic.
ANALYSIS
• Based on the average, it looks like Hammer was the airplane that went the furthest the most.
• 1: Shark
• 2: Hammer
• 3: Slick
• 4: Number 4
• 5: Bulldog Dart
ANALYSIS CONT.
• Why not Number 4?
• Number 4 is slightly front heavy.
• Number 4 has wide, thin wings.
• Number 4 has a pointed front.
• Why Hammer?
• Hammer is rather front heavy.
• Hammer is the shortest plane I made.
• Hammer has a blunt front.
• Hammer seems to be the thinnest plane made.
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
• I believe Hammer had the best average because it’s thinner build and it’s shorter stature. My results did not align with my hypothesis. I thought Number 4 would be the most aerodynamic, leading it to the best average, but it was Hammer.
• Though my results did not align with my hypothesis, the results do make sense.
NEXT TIME…
• If I were to repeat this experiment, I would hope to find a more open space, like a gym. I kept hitting things in my house because the planes don’t always fly straight.
• I would also do this not around my cats. My cat kept attacking the planes as I would throw them. She thought it was a pretty fun game.