There are other factors that influence how well a paper airplane flies. The type of paper used can affect its weight and the amount of friction that exists. How the plane is designed can also vary tremendously. The design of the wings, body, nose and tail can all drastically change the way the plane flies.
What affects how a paper airplane flies?
The weight of the paper plane also affects its flight, as gravity pulls it down toward Earth. All of these forces (thrust, lift, drag and gravity) affect how well a given paper plane's voyage goes.
What makes paper airplanes fly better?
A: If you want to help your plane glide through the air longer, you want to make it stable. You need to balance the center of lift (the place where the air pushes it up) with the center of gravity (where the weight of the plane is pulling it down).
How does a paper airplane shape affect the distance it will fly?
The size and shape of its wings, particularly the main wing, affects its performance. A lightweight plane with large wings glides well but travels slowly, while heavier planes with smaller wings travel more quickly and cover larger distances.
What is the best shape for a paper airplane?
Fold the point of the triangle down. I've found that the plane performs best if the shape made by this downward fold is another perfect triangle. Don't worry if your fold isn't perfect--it should still work just fine as long as the shape you made closely resembles a triangle.
Which shape of paper plane flies the farthest?
If you are looking for the furthest flying paper airplane that can really go the distance, we recommend The Bird. This design is relatively easy to fold, and if it is adjusted carefully it can glide for a very long distance. To optimize your throw for distance, try tossing this paper airplane at a 45° upward angle.
Do bigger or smaller paper airplanes fly farther?
In the same way a rock that is thrown pushes its way through the air as compared to a cotton ball, a paper airplane with more mass flies faster and farther than a paper plane with less mass, up to a point. If the mass is too great, the wings can't hold the plane in the air.
Do wider paper airplanes fly farther?
The wide planes traveled an average distance of 30 feet 2 inches. The long narrow planes traveled an average of 21 feet and 3 inches. The wide planes traveled an average of 9 feet 1 inch farther than the long narrow planes. We determined that wide airplane designs fly farther than long narrow designs.
What to add to a paper airplane to make it fly farther?
If you want to improve your paper airplane and make it fly farther, you'll need a good understanding of this. The easiest way to improve your paper airplane is to reduce drag, this is the force slowing it down. To reduce drag, you need to make sure the folds of your paper airplane are as flat as possible.
What materials makes the best paper airplane?
Weight: We recommend to use 80 to 100 GSM. Paper weight is measured by GSM (Grams per Square Meter) meaning if you take a square sheet of paper, with a length and width of one meter, this is its weight. Normal printing paper is 80-90 GSM, so a single sheet (from both formats of paper size) weights around 5 grams.
What makes a paper plane faster?
Use paper that accepts a fold. This is especially important if you want your airplane to fly far and fast, as sloppy, loose folds make the plane less aerodynamic. As a rule, the smoother the paper, the better it will take a fold.
How do you make an effective paper airplane?
Paper Airplane DIYFold the paper in half vertically.Unfold the paper and fold each of the top corners into the center line.Fold the peak toward you and 3/4” from the bottom of the paper.Fold both top corners into the center line.Fold the remaining tip over the two flaps at the center line to lock them in place.More items...
How does aerodynamics affect a paper airplane?
The aerodynamics of a paper airplane will determine the distance and ease at which it flies. The aerodynamics of the plane will need to have little drag and be light enough to defy gravity. Paper airplanes also use the forces of lift and thrust. When these four forces are used in balance, paper airplanes will fly longer.
How does a paper airplane fly?
The air around you is one thing that helps a paper airplane fly. When you move your hands through the air, you are able to feel the air on and around your hands, like you’re slicing right through it. Your hand is able to move more easily through the air at certain angles.
What is the longest paper airplane flight?
The current Guinness Book of World Record for the furthest paper aircraft flight is 69.14 meters. This record was accomplished on February 26, 2012 in North Highlands, California by John M. Collins and Joe Ayoob.
Can you do science experiments with paper airplanes?
Using your newfound knowledge of paper airplane aerodynamics, you can do science experiments. Use various types of paper and various paper airplane designs to test which type of paper or airplane design flies the best.
Do paper airplanes fly longer?
When these four forces are used in balance, paper airplanes will fly longer. Many people do not consider the science behind what makes a paper airplane fly, but this can be a great way to help kids not only learn, but enjoy science. The Science of Paper Airplanes. Airplane: Aerodynamics.
Why are paper airplanes interesting?
The mechanics of paper airplanes are interesting because they are similar to those of most things that move quickly through the air. They have four basic forces acting on them: via auntannie.com. The thrust comes from you when you throw the plane. Thus, the plane has no thrust in flight.
Why doesn't a plane slow down?
The reason it doesn’t continue to slow down during flight is because it is also falling, “converting” its potential energy into thrust as it falls. The lift comes from the difference in air pressure above and below the wing. This is caused by the shape of the wing, known as an airfoil.
How does a paper airplane work?
A paper plane with small wings travels quickly. A successful paper airplane maintains stability during its flight and glides well over a distance. The size and shape of its wings, particularly the main wing, affects its performance. A lightweight plane with large wings glides well but travels slowly, while heavier planes with smaller wings travel ...
How does paper affect lift?
The thickness of the paper you use will influence your plane's lift. If your plane has a thick edge facing into the wind, it will prevent air from attaching to the wing. Air must attach to the wing for the plane to achieve lift.
Why do planes glide faster?
A heavier wing load en ables a plane to glide faster, which means it will also descend faster than a plane with a lighter wing load. To create a plane that glides long distances, design it with a light wing load. Build a plane with large wings and a lightweight body for optimal results.
What is the wing load of an airplane?
Wing Load. The wing loading of an airplane is the weight of the plane divided by the surface area of its main wing. Heavy planes with small wings have larger wing loads than light planes with large wings. A heavier wing load enables a plane to glide faster, which means it will also descend faster than a plane with a lighter wing load.
What is the glide ratio of a plane?
A plane's glide ratio, or the distance of its glide divided by its altitude, is equal to its lift ratio. A wing with a slight bend, or camber, to its shape will outperform a flat wing in terms of its lift/drag ratio. A smooth surface on a plane results in less air resistance, and thus less drag.
What does a thin leading edge on a plane do?
A thin leading edge allows air to attach to the plane's wing, which gives it lift and helps it glide. If the wing is too thick, it will fail to gain lift and fall easily. Advertisement.
Why is it important to have a smooth surface on a plane?
A smooth surface on a plane results in less air resistance, and thus less drag. Use the smoothest paper possible on your plane to reduce drag, which enables the plane to fly with less friction. This makes the plane fly faster than it would otherwise. Advertisement.
