Activity
Make a Better Paper Airplane
What child hasn’t spent time making a paper airplane? Why not turn this common pastime into a lesson on the physics of aerodynamics and flight? This is a great activity for students of all ages, but older students should have a greater understanding of fluid dynamics and be able to push the outer limits of paper airplane design!
Grade
Subject
Thank you for your input.
What You Need:
- Various types of paper (any paper around the house is fine, but try to locate papers with different weights and thicknesses)
- Stopwatch
- Possible other materials include paper clips, stapler, scissors, and glue as needed by design
What You Do:
- Brainstorm ideas with your child about what makes a good paper airplane. Talk about the different variables that can be changed (a type of paper, folding pattern, other materials used) and how each of these may influence the flight of the plane. Physics concepts to consider:
- Archimedes’ Principle – An object surrounded by air is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the air displaced. If your budding Orville Wright uses heavier materials in the plane construction, your learner needs to take into account that more air must be displaced in order to keep the plane aloft. Your child should consider compensating with a broader wingspan.
- Bernoulli’s Principle – When the speed of a fluid increases, pressure in the fluid decreases. In this case, the fluid is air. In order for a plane to stay airborne, there must be less pressure above the wing than below it. This allows the greater bottom pressure to exert an upward force on the wing, giving the plane lift. In order to accomplish this, wings tend to have a greater surface area on the tops than the bottoms. Picture the curved, slightly upturned, top of a wing. Now, as the plane moves through the air, wind must travel faster over the curved top of the wing than the flat bottom of the wing, providing lift.
- Air Resistance – Friction causes drag, an opposing force to the forward motion of the plane. In order to decrease air resistance, your child should consider an aerodynamic design that allows the plane to “slice” through the air. Possible design accommodations should include a pointed nose and smooth body.
- Gather the materials and each of you make an airplane that you think will stay airborne the longest.
- Let the competition begin! Either head outside on a calm day or find a large enough space to fly your planes indoors. Each person should take a few practice throws, then take turns having one person fly their plane while the other person times the flight. See whose plane stays airborne for the longest time!
- Discuss the differences between your planes and why the winning plane flew longer than the other plane. Consider hitting the drawing board with new designs for a rematch! There are loads of sites on the internet with various paper airplane designs. Consider visiting a few and seeing how their designs compare to the designs used by your child.
- Turn up the heat on the competition and change the goal! Who can design the best trick airplane? Highest flying? Fastest?
Related learning resources
Paper Airplane Physics
Worksheet
Paper Airplane Physics
Ever wonder about how to make the perfect paper airplane? Learn about the four forces that affect flight with paper airplane physics!
5th grade
Science
Worksheet
Does A Longer Paper Airplane Fly Farther than a Wide One?
Science project
Does A Longer Paper Airplane Fly Farther than a Wide One?
Find out whether a longer airplane will fly farther or a wider paper airplane.
3rd grade
Science project
Make Marbleized Paper!
Activity
Make Marbleized Paper!
Learn how to make marbleized paper with simple everyday ingredients in this fun activity! Your child will learn about oil and water while doing this project.
5th grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
Make Recycled Paper
Activity
Make Recycled Paper
Have fun making recycled paper using scraps of used paper in your home with this hands-on project.
1st grade
Activity
Make a Santa's Helper Paper Poinsettia
Activity
Make a Santa's Helper Paper Poinsettia
Your child can be Santa's Helper this year by making a Christmas card and a paper poinsettia for someone in her life who may get overlooked this year.
5th grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
Make a Family Telephone Directory
Activity
Make a Family Telephone Directory
What better way to encourage family bonding and communication than to make a family directory to help everyone keep in touch?
5th grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
How to Make Your Own Paper
Activity
How to Make Your Own Paper
Your child can re-use and re-purpose old seeds and paper into something new: decorated paper that can be planted!
5th grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
Paper Fortune Cookies
Activity
Paper Fortune Cookies
Make your very own fortune cookies from paper and share good fortunes with family and friends.
5th grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
Wrapping Paper Vase
Activity
Wrapping Paper Vase
Use recycled wrapping paper and an empty bottle to make this beautiful vase for a great indoor activity when it's cold outside.
5th grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
How to Make a Neck Pillow
Activity
How to Make a Neck Pillow
Your fifth grader will have a blast sewing this plush neck pillow--and he'll sure be glad to have it on long car or airplane trips!
5th grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
Type on Paper: Which is Easier to Remember?
Science project
Type on Paper: Which is Easier to Remember?
This experiment explores whether reading text on a computer screen or type on paper leads to better retention of the information read.
4th grade
Science project
Graphing Paper
Worksheet
Graphing Paper
Never run out of graphing paper with this handy printable! Your geometry student can print out his own graphing paper at home.
5th grade
Worksheet
See this activity in a set:
Summer Science: Activities Kids Love