How to Design Paper Airplanes
Designing paper airplanes is a fun learning tool for both kids and adults. You can introduce scientific vocabulary and concepts including gravity, center of gravity (CG) and neutral point as well as math concepts like calculating surface area, charting flight distances, finding the average of flight distances or determining if a design alteration is statistically significant in improving flight speed or distance. You can also use paper airplanes to expand vocabulary and knowledge by discussing "the roles that paper plays in its construction," according to Exploratorium Magazine. Paper airplanes can be designed to fly well, fly far, look like authentic aircraft or just look cool.
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Instructions
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Determine what the purpose of your paper airplanes will be. Are they for 5-year-old students to learn about gravity or for statistics students to calculate standard deviation and test a hypothesis? Or are they for playing with or an attempt to create a realistic-looking airplane out of paper?
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Decide how much time you will have to design and build the paper airplane. Consider the time limits along with such factors as the age and skill of those who will be using your paper airplane design.
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Research the elements that go into designing paper airplanes as well as paper airplane aerodynamics. PaperPlane.org is an excellent place to start.
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Print out pictures of realistic airplanes to try to recreate in your paper airplane design if you are seeking a realistic-looking paper airplane.
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Create a hand sketch or digital sketch of the design. Include notes on the folding and sketches of the steps as the design is actually folded and built. Work out any problems with the design of your paper airplane by adjusting the test models. Keep notes of all adjustments.
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Create a final template of the paper airplane you have designed. This template could include dotted lines for folds as well as directional arrows. Make an instruction sheet to be used along with your template.
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Create a video demonstration of building the paper airplane you designed. Or photograph each step of the folding process.
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Tips & Warnings
In a classroom setting, video or photographs illustrating each step will be helpful tools. You can pause or replay video demonstrations, and photographs provide still images for each step, making replication easier for students.
