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The Science of Flight
Paper Airplane Project Glider Design Testing Instructions
The Science of Flight
Paper Airplane Project Glider Design Testing Instructions
Follow these instructions and guidance to complete the design testing.
Also download the Paper Airplane Project Glider Testing Worksheet found in the
Glider Design Building and Testing section of the Paper Airplane Project Information
and Instructions page within the Course Specific Information module to document
your testing data and results.
Testing Criteria (based on competition rules)
1. The glider’s materials will be restricted to a single, complete sheet of 8.5 x 11-inch
standard weight copy paper (20 lb bond / standard A4 format – mass = 4.5
grams).
Worksheet for testing is in the files below
2. The glider will be modified by folding only – no addition of other materials, ripping,
gluing or cutting.
3. The glider must be launched from ground level.
4. The distance design must be launched by one person throwing the aircraft unaided
from behind a straight launch line marked on the ground.
5. The duration design must be launched by one person throwing the aircraft unaided
from a static position with both feet firmly on the ground.
Other Testing Considerations
To best mimic the conditions in a glider competition venue (an aircraft hangar), do your
best to identify an appropriate and accessible testing area to achieve large heights and
distances with the glider. A large indoor location with high ceilings is ideal (like a
gymnasium, aircraft hangar, etc.). Do not perform tests indoors in locations that do not
allow the glider to achieve its maximum potential flight distance or duration (e.g.,
hallway, living room, garage, etc). Since outdoors will likely be your best option, perform
tests in large, open field (like a park or ball field) on a dry day with minimal wind, if
possible. Plan by consulting the weather forecast and choosing an optimal
weather day.
If possible, recruit an assistant to help with the testing and to also video or take pictures
of some of the test flights to include with your submission of the testing results.
Testing Materials
1. 8.5 x 11-inch standard weight copy paper (standard weight = 10 pounds per 1000
sheets)
2. A tool to measure flight distance (meter or yardsticks, tape measure, etc.)
3. A timer of any kind, accurate to 1 second
4. Testing worksheet
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5. A pen and a pencil
6. A small ruler for measuring glider wing dimensions
7. Camera with video capability (a smart phone camera is sufficient)
Testing Procedure
Review the steps carefully before beginning your testing, and think about how you will
carry out these steps to minimize uncertainty and error.
Testing Preparations
1. In the Paper Airplane Project Glider Testing Worksheet, document the name of
each design, the hypothesis for each design, and the description for the method for
imparting thrust for each design to maximize its performance (distance or flight
duration) as appropriate (Note: these items were completed in part 1 of the project).
2. For each design, build three test gliders per the stated restrictions identified in
Testing Criteria and Other Testing Considerations. Number each test glider with
a pen, minimizing the amount of ink used.
3. Devise and document the method* you will use to measure and calculate the total
wing area for each design. Then, using one of the test gliders for each design,
calculate and record the total wing area in square centimeters (cm2) in the
appropriate table in the testing worksheet. The glider mass, equal to a single sheet
of standard copy paper, is already recorded in the testing worksheet.
*To calculate the total wing area, you must devise a method for how to measure (using the small
ruler) and then calculate the area of the wings based on their geometric shape. You may need to do
some research on the geometry of common shapes and area calculations, and consult with
your instructor or classmates to confirm the correctness of your procedure. Note: 1 in2 = 6.45
cm2
4. Based on the measurements in 3 and 4, use the equation for wing loading (refer
back to the Module 1 Lesson) to calculate the wing loading for each design, in
g/cm2. Record the wing loading in the appropriate table in the testing worksheet.
Testing
1. Perform the tests for each design at your determined test site.
2. Before collecting any data, develop some skill and consistency by doing some
preliminary trial flights with one of the test planes for each design, abiding by the
testing criteria, and using the hypothesized methods for imparting thrust. You may
find that the thrust methods need to be “tweaked” a little for optimization of the flight.
Record some comments and observations for this preliminary testing.
3. Test the distance design glider using the following steps:
A. Launch the test glider abiding by the testing criteria, utilizing the desired thrust
method.
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B. Measure and record the distance flown, measured as the straight line from the
launch line to the landing point (point where it strikes the ground), to the
nearest tenth (one decimal place). You may measure the distance in any units,
but you must convert the distance to meters (m), and record the distance in
meters in the worksheet. Conversions: 1 foot = 0.305 meters; 1 inch =
0.0254 meters.
C. Make and record some observations of the flight characteristics of the test glider
during flight (relative speed, lift, drag, stability, control, center of gravity, etc.).
D. Repeat steps A-C until you have five trials for each of the three distance test
gliders.
4. Test the duration design glider using the following steps:
A. Launch the test glider abiding by the testing criteria, utilizing the desired thrust
method, while simultaneously timing the flight duration.
B. Start the timer when the glider is released, and stop the timer when the
glider hits the ground.
C. Record the flight time in the worksheet to the nearest whole second.
D. Make and record some observations of the flight characteristics of the test glider
during flight (speed, lift, drag, stability, control, center of gravity, etc.).
E. Repeat steps A-D until you have five trials for each of the three duration test
gliders.
Calculations and Graphs
1. Calculate and record the average flight distance for each of the distance design
test gliders to the nearest tenth of a meter (m).
2. Calculate and record the average flight time for each of the duration design test
gliders to the nearest tenth of a second.
3. Create a graph (by hand or on the computer) of the average distance vs. test
glider for each of the distance design test gliders. Graph average distance on the y-
axis, and test glider number on the x-axis.
4. Create a graph (by hand or on the computer) of the average flight time vs. test
glider for each of the flight duration design test gliders. Graph average flight time on
the y-axis, and test glider number on the x-axis.
5. Insert the graphs and any photos or videos taken of the test flights on the last page
of the worksheet. (Hint: If you made the graphs by hand, take a picture of them,
save them as an image file, and import them into the document.)
Variability, Uncertainty, and Error
Record all possible sources of variability, uncertainty, and/or error in your testing in the
worksheet. (consider materials, testing environment, and testing methods).
Results and Conclusions
In the worksheet, for each design, state which test plane performed the best along with
the average distance or time of that plane. Then, summarize some results and
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conclusions based on the data and calculations from the testing of each design. Include
some comparison of the flight characteristics of the best performing glider of each
design to the other test gliders of the same design. Discuss the degree of trust you have
in the results based on the variability, uncertainty, and error in the testing. Also include
an evaluation of the correctness of the hypotheses for each plane design, providing
justification for the evaluation based on the testing
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