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Paper Airplanes are better than real ones. For play. Not flying. |
| Paper airplanes are unpowered gliders made by folding a single sheet of paper into an aerodynamic shape. While often seen as simple toys, they are functional model aircraft that follow the same fundamental principles of flight as full-sized jets. How They Work Paper airplanes fly by balancing four physical forces: Thrust: The forward movement provided by the "pilot's" launching throw. Lift: The upward force created as air moves over the wings. Since paper is flat, lift is primarily generated by the angle of attack (tilting the wings slightly upward). Drag: Air resistance that pushes back against the plane, slowing it down. Gravity (Weight): The force pulling the plane toward the Earth. Primary Types Darts: These are narrow, arrow-shaped designs built for speed and distance. They handle high-thrust launches well but have less lift. Gliders: Featuring wider wings, these designs are optimized for time aloft (duration). They float slowly and often fly in gentle circles. Historical & Practical Uses Origins: While paper folding (origami) has existed for centuries in China and Japan, the modern "paper airplane" gained significant recognition in the late 19th century alongside early aviation experiments. Engineering Tools: Aviation pioneers, including the Wright brothers and Jack Northrop, used paper models to test wing shapes and flight stability before building full-scale aircraft. Education: Today, they are widely used in STEM education to teach students about physics, aerodynamics, and the scientific method. The other two pages will show 2 paper airplane designs! |