PAPER AIRPLANE EXPERIMENT Test different airplane designs to see which flies the farthest. Track distances and hypothesize why one worked best.

To conduct a paper airplane experiment effectively, we can break down the process into several steps: ### Step 1: Define the Objective The goal is to test different paper airplane designs to determine which one flies the farthest. ### Step 2: Gather Materials - Different types of paper (e.g., printer paper, cardstock) - Ruler or measuring tape - Stopwatch (optional, for timing flights) - Notebook for recording results - A clear, open space for flying the airplanes ### Step 3: Design the Airplanes Choose at least three different designs for your paper airplanes. Here are some common designs: 1. **Dart Plane**: A simple, pointed design that is easy to fold. 2. **Glider Plane**: A wider wingspan that allows for more lift. 3. **Stunt Plane**: A design with wings that can be adjusted for different flight patterns. ### Step 4: Create a Hypothesis Before testing, hypothesize which design you think will fly the farthest and why. Consider factors such as: - Wing shape and size - Weight distribution - Aerodynamics ### Step 5: Conduct the Experiment 1. **Fold each airplane** according to its design. 2. **Test each airplane** by throwing it in the same manner (same angle, force, and environment) to ensure consistency. 3. **Measure the distance** each airplane flies using a ruler or measuring tape. Record the distances in your notebook. ### Step 6: Record Results Create a table to track the distances flown by each design. For example: | Airplane Design | Distance Flown (meters) | |------------------|-------------------------| | Dart Plane | | | Glider Plane | | | Stunt Plane | | ### Step 7: Analyze the Data After testing all designs, analyze the results: - Which airplane flew the farthest? - How did the distances compare among the different designs? ### Step 8: Draw Conclusions Based on your results, draw conclusions about why one design worked better than the others. Consider: - Aerodynamic features - Stability during flight - Weight and balance ### Step 9: Reflect on the Experiment Think about what you learned from the experiment. Would you change any designs or methods for future tests? What other factors could influence flight distance? ### Step 10: Share Your Findings If possible, share your results with others. You could create a presentation or a report summarizing your experiment, findings, and conclusions. By following these steps, you can conduct a thorough and educational paper airplane experiment that explores the principles of flight and aerodynamics.