Physical science lab demonstrating the flight patterns of paper airplanes PDF

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Paper is a lab on the distance paper airplanes would travel based on the various ways to fold them. The paper includes graphs and demonstrations of a series of different types of folded planes....

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Natural Sciences Lab – C683 BRP TASK 1 Jessica Pittelli Student ID #00138263

The Best Design for a Paper Airplane to Fly the Farthest Section I: Introduction and Literature Review A. As an elementary school teacher, we often experiment with various forms of origami. This usually ends up with a room full of student throwing around paper airplanes. A paper plane (also known as a paper airplane in American English or paper aero plane in British English) is a toy aircraft, usually a glider made out of single folded sheet of paper or paperboard (Wikipedia contributors. 2021, May 2). I decided to extend this activity into a competition between the students where the winner would be the student who made the paper airplane that flew the furthest. It was immediately clear that some of the student’s airplanes flew way better than the others which led me to think, “What made one fly further than another?”. I went on to research the science behind paper airplanes and what makes them fly. According to Nasa, paper airplanes Are subject to three different forces that create flight. Those forces are lift, drag, and weight. To generate lift, a glider must move through the air. The motion of a glider through the air also generates drag which makes the glider quickly slow down until it can no longer generate enough lift to oppose the weight, and it then falls to earth (Benson, T. ,2014, June 12). For my experiment I will create different styles of paper airplanes using cardstock paper to see which designs will create the most lift and decrees the drag in order to fly the farthest.

Section II: Hypothesis B. My hypothesis is that the method used to fold the paper will differentiate the outcomes of how far the airplane will fly. I believe that a more narrow and sleek design will fly the farthest and that a wider paper airplane will increase the drag causing it to fly a shorter distance. C. By altering the design and shape of the airplane we can alter the lift and drag of that air that passes around it as it flies. This will create a variation in distances achieved from the

different styles of paper airplanes that I create.

Section III: Method D. Independent variable: The independent variables in the experiment are the different methods of folding the paper into airplanes to achieve maximum aerodynamic design • Each paper airplane design is unique and offers scientific reasons for how far and fast the airplane will fly based on increased or decreased wind resistance. The variable will be manipulated by folding the paper into different shapes and angles to adjust the rate and speed of flight.

E. dependent variable: The dependent variable is how far each airplane travels in flight • The distance will be measured in feet and inches using a tape measure

F. External confounding variable One external, confounding variable is the method in which the airplanes are being thrown. Each plane will be launched using a battery-operated paper airplane launcher made by NERF. The launcher will be placed in the same place for each launch creating a constant for the method of flight each plane will begin with. The amount of force and direction the plane will be thrown is also a constant due to the consistency of a stationary launcher. G. Materials * NERF paper airplane launcher (battery operated) * Cardstock Paper (heavy duty paper used for folding) * Paper airplane/origami step-by-step paper folding instructions * Masking tape (for marking the start and finish place of each plane) * Measuring tape (foe measuring the distance each plane traveled after its flight is complete) H. Experimental procedure The experimental for this experiment was a simple step by step process. I began by using the origami instruction to fold the cardstock paper into airplanes. I chose 5 different designs from https://www.foldnfly.com/#/1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2. I used 8x11 cardstock paper for each construction. After following the instructions to make the different style airplanes I took them outside to a flat surface in an open parking lot, using a painted white line on the street to measure the starting point for each throw. I did the experiment on a calm day to

eliminate wind as a contributing factor. Each time I launched the plane from the same spot behind the line and at shoulder height using the battery-operated paper airplane launcher. Once the airplane landed at a complete stop, I used a measuring tape to measure the distance it had gone from launch to coming to a full stop. I did this three times with each plane to ensure the most accurate result. I measured the distance of all three throws and then used the average of each throw to record my results. Section IV: Result I.

Summary

After conducting the experiment three time with each airplane I calculated the average distance of each design and recorded the average on a bar graph. I was apparent with each different design that the distances definitely varied based on the aerodynamic design of each one. Even when some of the designs were similar, I found that small variances effected the direction and distance of flight. In the end, it was determined that “The Wedge” plane flew the furthest of the 5 designs and it did so consistently throughout the experiment. The Wedge design was a slim airplane that only required 7 folds to create, however it offered the least amount of resistance due to the sleek design that pierced through the air. Its design had no flaps or extra folds that might have impeded the flight due to creating drag. It also flew the straightest of all five designs, I believe, due to the lack of special folds designed for direction or lift. I also determined that the airplane “Heavy Nosed Plane” consistently flew the shortest distance. This plane was created with eight folds creating a weighted tip and a wider wingspan. The weight of the front of the plane resulted in a quicker descent to the ground resulting in shorter distances flown. Although the plane was created with the same materials, it had an overall heavier feel to it and created too much resistance to fly farther than the other planes. This plane also wasn’t able to fly as strait as “the wedge” due to the design which created drag and caused it to move in a less strait direction. J.

15.5

Basic Dart

The Buzz

17.5

14

Heavy-Nosed Plane

Cross Wing

18.5

19.5

The Wedge 10

12.5

15

17.5

20

Section V: Conclusions K.

My hypotheses that the paper airplanes flight distance would vary depending on the folding design of the paper was correct. The flight distances did vary for each of the different designs and the distances were consistent throughout the trials resulting in an accurate graph representing which designs proved to fly further and which designs flew shorter distances. All five of the designs were compatible with flight, however small variations to the design itself resulted in more drag which brought the plane to the ground sooner as well as designs that prevented the airplane from flying completely strait which had an effect on the overall distance of flight.

L.

One uncontrolled variable that could have influenced the results was the breeze during the experiment. I did the experiment during the calmest time of day possible, however the breeze cannot be predicted or measured accurately and even the slightest air movement may have affected the flight path and distance flew. If I were to repeat this experiment and improve upon it, I would try the experiment in an indoor area such as a gymnasium or large empty room free of obstacles. This would have created a more controlled environment that would have a bit more consistency with the airflow for each recorded throw.

M.

My experimental results were consistent with the literature review that stated that the variation in design would create a variation in the lift and drag of each flight. Weight wasn’t a factor due to the fact that it was a constant throughout the experiment. My results proved that if the design created more drag than the plane would travel a shorter distance and if the design created more lift, then the plane was able to travel farther which was consistent with the information provided by NASA.

Section VI: Sources References Wikipedia contributors. (2021, May 2). Paper plane. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paper_plane&oldid=1021060313

NASA. Paper Airplanes. (2015, May 05). Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/glidpaper.html NASA. Paper Airplanes. (2015, May 05). Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/glidpaper.html NASA. Paper Airplanes. (2015, May 05). Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/glidpaper.html Benson, T. (2014, June 12). Gliders. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/glider.html

Fold N’ Fly (December 29, 2020). Paper Air Plane Designs. Foldnfly. Retrieved from https://www.foldnfly.com/#/1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2...