Saturday, May 29, 2010

Updatess

Ok have been pretty busy gathering more information for my srp.
I went to the library and borrowed every single book I could find on flight to help with reasearch and my introduction.

realised a few errors in my method to and changes I am going to make
1. I'll just use me to throw all the planes, one person would keep it constant, I don't know what i was thinking before
2. I'm gonna look at more variables than wingspan, I'll also keep track of direction, flight time and distance of course, also will add paper weights to the nose and look into cuting the paper as recommended in some designs will result in changes

will be handwriting draft intro method so ill scan them when i get the chance
results coming soon

Over and Out
EmmaBaylissChan

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Graph, Intro, Method etc




Oh noes! I don't seem to be able to upload the graph, but photo uploading has been really weird for me, I could have posted eight and not realised it as they don't show up D:

Well here is the basic Introduction and method, I think I've decided to just focus on wingspan - the greater the wingspan - the greater distance the plane travels

Introduction:
Sailplanes are relatively known as the worlds best gliding planes. These planes have a great wingspan which allow them to glide for a very long distance. This experiment tests if the same concept applies in paper airplanes. Will the wingspan of paper airplanes effect the distance travelled. I chose to do this experiment after a friend suggested something similar. I have always been interested in flight and was dissapointed when my paper airplane did not win the flight competiton my class had in year six. Hopefully this experiment will result in discovering whether greater wingspan will result in a greater distance travelled in paper airplanes.

Method:
1. Construct an array of different paper airplanes all varying in wingspan.
2. Collect equipment: Tape measure.
3. Find a suitable large preferrably indoor area to peform the experiment.
4. Mark where someone is to stand when the throw the airplane.
5. One person throws the array of paper planes.
6. Record results, distance, time, in a table
7. Repeat steps 5-6 at least 5 times
8. Pack up and return equipment.

Ok thats the basics, kinda just realised I might see if wingspan has any affecting on the amount of time the plane stays airborne, will include next time :)

Over and Out,

Emma Bayliss-Chan

Brainstorm




There are things I want to basically hypothesise


-That paper airplanes with a greater wingspan will fly for a longer distance


-That paper airplanes with a shorter wingspan will fly for longer but a shorter distance


-That paper airplanes with a weight (standard paper clip) at the nose will fly better (longer further)


-That paper airplanes made of heavier materials will fly a shorter distance.


-Higher elevation will result in further flight




The thing with my secong hypothesis is that if the plane with the short wingspan were to fly longer - its is because it was thrown directly upwards but gliding would be directly forward. the variation in throwing styles is a annoying changing thing.




Time aloft for a paper airplane can be optimized by either throwing a paper airplane with a short wing span real high, and having it glide downward fairly quickly








I do not have the fine details of the experiment down, but here is the basic brain storm:


- airplanes can apparently fly quite a distance, so I think I will book the school hall and do flight experiments there


-Will use the stairs for different elevation


- Borrow the tape measure from p.e staff for this experiment, friends will help measure the distance


-Record results in a table like this:


-ok tried to paste a picture but blogging made it all weird

Flight of a Paper Airplane With an Added Weight
Plane
Wingspan (cm)
Distance Travelled (m)
Time (s)


-different materials will consist of paper, thin paper (think I'll find some in an art shop) and thicker paper (art shop again)


- Will use 30 people at least to throw the planes to hopefully narrow down the chance of someone being supergood with throwing one type of plane and crap at throwing another




sure I've left something out but hopefully I'll remember it in my next post


Over and out

EmmaBaylissChan

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Technical information

Ok been reading up on the more technical side of paper aeroplanes- what makes paper aeroplanes fly. The language I am trying to decifer is rather technical but if I need any help I'm sure my aviation crazy dad can explain everything a little too well for me - go on and on and on and on.


Really wish there were more Paper Aeroplane books out there but I guess I'll have to learn though the internet. I've always preffered books more than the internet. Information is easier to find and reliable. Oh wells

http://paperplane.org/paero.htm



this website is the one I'm looking at right now.

It's information overload and all the technical language is making it very hard to understand.
But it does say to avoid anhedral which is where the wings angle downwards

Paper planes need Dihedral the wings need to be angled upwards


once again on my search for more reliable information


next wikipedia - for a general overview and links to useful sites


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_plane


unfortunately I have to go to dancing now, but will update with more details later


over and out,


EmmaBaylissChan



Friday, May 7, 2010

Update

ok well I have not been properly updating my blog I must admit but I have been doing things just forgetting to post it here.

Well i did make around 20 paper planes 2 weeks ago to see if they were easy to construct etc, took pictures to post but unforunately my camera broke a few days later, leaving me in very depressed state.

Something that is making me even more depressed over this SRP is that I had no idea that other people were doing the same SRP, let alone how much better there blogs are. Seeing their blogs made me want to quit but the great song Airplanes by B.o.B + Hayley Williams came along and I knew it was destiny. So I am going to step my game up.

I have reserved a paper airplane making book at my local library. Someone has checked it out and it is due back on the 17th of May! hope it gets returned sooner.

well will post more late but I need to go eat some lunch,

over and out,

EmmaBaylissChan