Background research
Here is our paper and research of the project discussing the different aspects of paper airplanes.
Paper airplanes & The history of flight
Paper airplanes are some of childhood's best memories. Some people relate these paper airplanes to Japanese origami which is a tradition they use in folding paper to make different kinds of creative objects out of paper. Making these figures with paper could be lots of fun and the outcome could turn out great and satisfying for you. These could either be meant for competitions or just for fun. But recently, paper airplanes have become more than just causal entertainment. What if I told you that paper airplanes could be used to shape the way we understand flight?
This is where we started asking questions. Flight has always been a want. No person has ever been able to fly. Man would see birds and dream of flying away. Ancient philosophers have tried and failed at creating the ability to fly. Although their designs we intelligent, their current technology did not allow them to create a working flying device. But as present day citizens, planes have been man's main way of travel besides cars. This industry has grown so much over time yet, we don't fully understand it. The Wright Brothers are famous for creating the bi-plane. This pinnacle point in history is important for future inventors. Like how Benjamin Franklin was for Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers helped to pave the way for future creators. From there we as a species have researched and created more efficient machines. Current airplanes can hold up to 200 people on one plane with included commoderaties and living space. Private planes can be used as personal living spaces. We've even created rocket ships, satellites, and space stations to travel to space and even hold a certain amount of people. These large and amazing contraptions have shaped the future of travel. But what about smaller planes? What if we could change the way they travel by creating different types of planes that are maybe longer in wingspan or have less weight on them? That's where paper airplanes come in.
For our project we are testing how their wingspans and weight can affect their distance traveled. We will be making basic paper airplanes by using the design we've given to you. But for each of the paper airplanes we are making the printer paper shorter and shorter so that we have different wingspans. For each of the planes that we are launching, we are using a different amount of weights (paper clips) to attach and in use for final results. Launching the planes we will be using a catapult made of two sticks and a rubber band. We will be using this instead of throwing the planes because we want the same velocity and same motion so that every plane is being released equally.
Overall we think that these modifications can make a big impact on the flight community. For all we know we could be helping to design better and more efficient planes for the future. It's always nice to think about the bigger picture when creating something so simple. Yet all the research we are putting in could shape the future. I think that's a pretty big deal.
This is where we started asking questions. Flight has always been a want. No person has ever been able to fly. Man would see birds and dream of flying away. Ancient philosophers have tried and failed at creating the ability to fly. Although their designs we intelligent, their current technology did not allow them to create a working flying device. But as present day citizens, planes have been man's main way of travel besides cars. This industry has grown so much over time yet, we don't fully understand it. The Wright Brothers are famous for creating the bi-plane. This pinnacle point in history is important for future inventors. Like how Benjamin Franklin was for Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers helped to pave the way for future creators. From there we as a species have researched and created more efficient machines. Current airplanes can hold up to 200 people on one plane with included commoderaties and living space. Private planes can be used as personal living spaces. We've even created rocket ships, satellites, and space stations to travel to space and even hold a certain amount of people. These large and amazing contraptions have shaped the future of travel. But what about smaller planes? What if we could change the way they travel by creating different types of planes that are maybe longer in wingspan or have less weight on them? That's where paper airplanes come in.
For our project we are testing how their wingspans and weight can affect their distance traveled. We will be making basic paper airplanes by using the design we've given to you. But for each of the paper airplanes we are making the printer paper shorter and shorter so that we have different wingspans. For each of the planes that we are launching, we are using a different amount of weights (paper clips) to attach and in use for final results. Launching the planes we will be using a catapult made of two sticks and a rubber band. We will be using this instead of throwing the planes because we want the same velocity and same motion so that every plane is being released equally.
Overall we think that these modifications can make a big impact on the flight community. For all we know we could be helping to design better and more efficient planes for the future. It's always nice to think about the bigger picture when creating something so simple. Yet all the research we are putting in could shape the future. I think that's a pretty big deal.
works cited
Shaw, Robert J., Dr. "History of Flight." NASA. NASA, 12 June 2014. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.