A. Complete a project design plan (completed before the investigation is conducted).

The experiment that I will be performing will be to create two paper airplanes, each of different types of papers and to document which one will glide the farthest. This experiment will supply information that will benefit students studying aerodynamics and anyone else that is researching flight design in comparison to distance traveled.

1. In a literature review, summarize information from at least two outside science experiment projects (published works or works by other students) that relate to your topic of inquiry.

In the first paper that I reviewed the hypothesis was that two airplanes would be thrown, each of a different type of paper and two different styles of planes. The students thought that the plane with the largest wing span and lighter paper would fly the farthest. They concluded that their hypothesis was partly incorrect in that the style of plane did travel farther but the type of paper created problems. (rnc3333,2008)

In the second paper that I reviewed the authors basically stated that regardless of thrust, style or weight of paper all paper airplanes will at some point land because it will lose the force or thrust that is propelling it. (123helpme.com, 2012)

2. In an experimental design, do the following:
a. Describe the steps in the experimental procedure.

Orient your piece of paper so that page is wider rather than longer

Fold the top left corner down toward you. Crease along the side and repeat with the top right corner.

Fold the left side over again and crease along the middle. Repeat with the right side.

Fold the nose down toward you fold about 1 inch down.

Fold the right half of the plane over the left half along the middle so that the outside edges of the wings line up.

Fold the wings down along fold and the winglets up along the edges. Add wing dihedral by tilting the wings up slightly away from the fuselage. The wings will have a slight “V” shape when viewed from the front.

b. Discuss your reasoning for choosing this particular experimental design plan.

I decided to perform this experiment in this manner because it was the most effective way for me to get results in the restraints that I have. I only have access to these two types of paper and the weather does not allow me to practice throwing the planes outdoors.

c. Explain the sequence of events you will use to collect quantitative data. 1. Folded the paper to create both paper airplanes
2. laid the tape measure on the floor and extended it out to its fullest extent of 30 feet
3. I stood behind the tape measure so that my foot was behind the 1 inch mark
4. I threw each plane 3 times
5. I measured the distance from the farthest part of the plane regardless of what part of the plane it was

d. Describe the tools, technologies, and measurement units that will be used to collect quantitative data.

* 1- Piece of cardstock paper
* 1- Piece of fax/printer paper
* 1- 30 foot tape measure (measures inches and feet)

3. Explain and identify the dependent, independent, and controlled variables for your study.

In this experiment there are only independent variables and dependent variables, the independent variables are the 2 different types of paper and the dependent variable is the distance that will be measured in inches and/or feet.

4. Explain what you will do to reduce the threats to internal validity. In the environment that I had available to me there were a few factors that could have affected the results of my experiment. I performed my experiment in my home so I had to find a space that was open and long enough for me to have 30 feet of clear distance space. So I cleared a space in my living room and dining room where these two rooms are attached, I cleared to furniture and made sure there were no obstructions that would hit the planes when they were to be thrown. In addition I had to make sure that when I was going to perform this experiment my 2 year old daughter was not around, if she was she would chase after the planes. To counter this I performed my experiment when she was taking her nap.

5. In the hypothesis section, state your hypothesis, and explain how you come up with your hypothesis. It is my belief that the paper airplane made with the cardstock paper would fly the farthest, I think this will happen because the card stock is a much more rigid paper in comparison to the printer paper and it will hold the folds and creases of the plane better. It will also have just enough weight so that it would not be too light or too heavy to glide.

B. Explain the process of data collection (completed after the investigation is conducted), including appropriate photographs, tables, or diagrams to clearly show the data collection process.

Distance thrown for copy paper airplane
Distance thrown for card stock airplane

1st Throw
10 Feet
20 Feet

2nd Throw
10 Feet 6 Inches
21 Feet

3rd Throw
10 Feet 3 Inches
21 Feet 6 Inches

1. The paper airplanes were thrown one at a time.
2. The first plane to be thrown was the one that was made of computer/copy paper
3. After the plane was thrown I measured the distance in feet and inches from the part of the plane which was the farthest from the beginning of the start point.
4. I threw this plane three times
5. The three distance measurements for this plane were: 1st throw: 10 feet 2nd throw: 10 feet 6 inches 3rd throw: 10 feet 3 inches
6. I then threw the paper plane that was made of cardstock paper
7. After the plane was thrown I measured the distance in feet and inches from the part of the plane which was the farthest from the beginning of the start point.
8. I threw this plane three times
9. The three distance measurements for this plane were: 1st throw: 20 feet 2nd throw: 21 feet 3rd throw: 21 feet 6 inches

1. Discuss your use of appropriate methods, tools, and technologies to collect quantitative data.
• Use appropriate measurement units to collect quantitative data.

In performing this experiment I used two different types of paper. One was regular copy paper from your home printer and the second was card stock, this is paper that you would use to print business cards. I used these two papers because they were what was readily available to me.
Second I used a tape measure that had measurements in feet and inches, this was the most relevant as it was what I used to collect my data.

C. Explain the results of your experiment (completed after the investigation is conducted), including graphical representations (e.g., bar graph, line graph, pie chart, etc.) of the data collected.
• Include appropriate measurement units in the graphical representations.

As you can see from the graph above I threw two airplanes, one made of copy paper and the second made of card stock paper. After throwing each airplane three times the airplane made of copy paper traveled 10 feet, 10 feet 6 inches and 10 feet 3inches. The airplane made of card stock traveled 20 feet, 21 feet and 21 feet 6 inches.

D. Provide a conclusion derived from your interpretation of the data (completed after the investigation is conducted). Include the following in your conclusion:
1. Discussion of whether your results confirm or refute your hypothesis.

In performing the experiment I confirmed that my hypothesis was correct. According to the results of the experiment I found that the airplane made of cardstock which is a much more rigid and heavy paper traveled the farthest distance.

2. Explanation of why experimental design is a key factor in the success of the scientific inquiry.

My experiment consisted of two airplanes each made of a different type of paper. One of the things that was very important to how I performed my experiment was that both of the airplanes were made in the same style. The papers were folded the same way and the designs of the planes were identical. Also I threw each plane with the same thrust and energy. This also is a factor in how I got my data.

3. Explanation of how your investigation can be replicated by someone else.
a. Discuss how the replication of an experiment is an evaluation of validity.

If someone wanted to repeat my experiment a few key factors are that they must use the same type of planes in order to get unbiased data. By using the same design of plane of both types of paper is takes out any doubt that there was any other factor in the design of the plane that would affect the data being collected. Also the planes should be thrown with the same thrust and speed. There should be little to no outside factors effecting the flight of the planes such as a prevailing air current or obstruction that could inhibit its full potential of travel.
In my experiment I threw each plane 3 times, this gave me sufficient data to prove that my hypothesis was correct, however depending on the importance of the experiment and weight of the hypothesis it may be to the benefit of your cause to perform a particular experiment several times, this would add to the validity of your experiment in that your pool of data would be larger and you would have more information to either prove or disprove your hypothesis and you could further investigate any other factors that may be present that you had not considered at the beginning of your experiment.

E. If you use sources, include all in-text citations and references in APA format.