In , he regained the record with a The folds that make up an airplane give it the shape it needs, control the distribution of mass, and add stiffness where needed. By itself, a sheet of paper is not very stiff. Hold a sheet of paper by the edge and notice how it droops limply downward. Hold your multifold airplane at the rear center, however, and notice that it doesn't droop. Paper—because it has the ability to hold a fold—can be made rigid.
A fold that increases the height of the body of the plane will make a plane that resists drooping under gravity. Small folds at the back edge of the wing or the body allow you to control the flight of the plane.
Our plane has been designed so that you can make it fly best by bending up the rear edge of the wing a little bit. Making a paper airplane—and looking at the properties that paper contains—can give you new respect for the lowly piece of paper, a thin, lightweight material that's impermeable to air. But the best thing about paper is that it is everywhere, ready to be recycled into airplanes with only a few quick folds.
Originally published Summer Gather members of your household and see who can produce the model plane that flies farthest. Remember to consider the forces your plane will experience when designing your plane. Are there other ways to define paper airplane success besides distance? What changes did you make to your original plane design? How did members of your household design their planes differently?
What was most surprising to you about your plane tests? All airplanes, whether in your house or 35, feet in the sky, fly because the forces that push and pull them are balanced. It may sound simple, but many important design choices contribute to successfully keeping a plane in the air. Even though more than a century has passed since humans achieved powered flight, new plane designs are still emerging.
Researchers are especially interested in ways to make planes more environmentally friendly. Over the years, NASA has developed and tested new plane technologies , including ways to reduce fuel consumption and noise pollution. Recently, Airbus revealed a new airplane design that promises to release zero emissions into the atmosphere.
Excited to learn more about the aerodynamics behind paper planes? Start with some advice from the world record holder for longest paper airplane flight: Aerodynamics Explained by World Record Paper Airplane Designer. Looking to become an experienced airplane folder? Jennifer Powers is a science educator at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, where she makes science fun for everyone through strategically designed exhibits and hands-on activities. Make a paper toy that spins thousands of times per minute, and then measure, and try to modify, its speed.
Build a delta kite and explore some of the forces involved in flight. Challenge your design skills to improve your kite's stability in the air. A glider is a special kind of aircraft that has no engine. In flight, a glider has three forces acting on it as compared to the four forces that act on a powered aircraft. Both types of aircraft are subjected to the forces of lift , drag , and weight. The powered aircraft has an engine that generates thrust , while the glider has no thrust.
There are many different types of glider aircraft. Paper airplanes are the simplest aircraft to build and fly, and students can learn the basics of aircraft motion by flying paper airplanes. Building and flying balsa wood or styrofoam gliders is an inexpensive way for students to have fun while learning the basics of aerodynamics.
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