The perfect paper airplane

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.