PalCenter Staff Projects

Paper Airplane Flight School ✈️

Goal: Explore the principles of flight and aerodynamics by designing and testing paper airplanes.

Your Challenge: Design a paper airplane that can fly the farthest distance.

Materials:

• Various types of paper (e.g., copy paper, construction paper, cardstock – optional, but good for experimentation)
• Tape (optional, for securing folds or adding small weights like paperclips)
• Measuring tape
• An open area for test flights (hallway, outdoor space)

Let’s Take Flight!

1. Design & Fold (10-15 min):
   • Start with a basic paper airplane design, or look up some different folding techniques.
   • Think about what makes an airplane fly:
     • Lift: How do the wings create upward force?
     • Drag: How does air resistance slow it down?
     • Weight: How does the plane’s weight affect its flight?
     • Thrust: How will you launch it for best results?
2. Test Flights & Modifications (15-20 min):
   • Find a starting line. Throw your airplane and measure the distance it travels.
   • Observe its flight: Does it fly straight? Does it nosedive or stall?
   • Make small changes to your design:
     • Adjust the wing flaps (elevators and ailerons).
     • Change the nose weight (e.g., add a paperclip or fold it differently).
     • Try different throwing styles.
   • Test it again after each modification. Keep track of what works best!
3. Distance Competition (5-10 min):
   • Everyone gets a few official throws with their best design.
   • Measure the distance for each throw.
   • Whose plane flew the farthest?

Think About It:

• What design features helped planes fly farther or straighter?
• How did changing the wing shape or adding weight affect the flight?
• Connections: Aerospace engineers design airplanes, spacecraft, and missiles. They study aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials. University paths could include Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Physics.

Have fun exploring and discovering!