Paper Plane Distance & Drag
Supplies, instructions, resources, and worksheets are below!
Paper Plane – Testing Distance & Drag
Project Description
How far can a paper plane fly with different drag (force)? Determine whether the distance a paper plane flies is affected by increasing how much drag it experiences. Use the Investigative Worksheet to record your findings.
Activity Time
Short (1 day)
Supplies Needed
3 pieces of 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper
Scissors
Metric Ruler
Tape measure
Masking Tape
Large area, away from people and vehicles
Investigative Worksheet
Learning Objectives
Is distance accelerated by force
Predicting
Investigating
Using Tables
Strengthen problem solving
Vocabulary Terms to Understand
Look up each word and write their definition.
drag
force
distance
lift
weight
thrust
turbulence
accelerate
velocity
speed
flight
Example Instructional Video
What Factors Affect the Flight of a Paper Airplane?
Instructions
1. Print the Investigative Worksheet.
2. Read and follow the instructions from this Paper Plane Design Page.
3. Make 2 more different paper planes (use the resource link below or create your own).
4. Use the Investigative Worksheet. Create a table like the one shown below on the back of the Investigative Worksheet to record your findings. Discuss with your teacher.
Questions
What is drag and does it affect flight?
How could you change how much drag a plane has?
What provides thrust to airplanes?
How do you find the average distance among your flight tests?
More Resources and Alternative Versions
How to Make a Paper Airplane (5 styles)
FoldnFly.com: Paper Airplane Designs Database!