Why Didn't Both Planes Fly the Same?

Your two planes were made from paper and launched in the same way — but their shapes were different.

As a plane moves, it has to push through the air. The air pushes back against the plane, creating a force called drag.

Change the shape of the plane and you change how it interacts with the air.

That's why two paper planes can behave very differently — even when the same person throws them.

So... Are Bigger Wings Better?

Not necessarily!

A narrow, pointed plane may move quickly through the air, while broader wings can help a plane glide differently and stay airborne.

But there isn't one perfect wing shape.

A plane designed for speed may look very different from one designed to glide slowly, carry a heavy load or fly efficiently for a long distance.

The best design depends on the job.

What Did the Paper Clip Do?

That tiny paper clip didn't change the wings — but it did change the plane's mass and balance.

Where mass is positioned affects the plane's centre of mass.

Move that balance too far forward or backward and the plane may:

• dive towards the ground

• climb and stall

• wobble

• fly more or less steadily

Aircraft engineers have to think carefully about where the mass is positioned, not just how much mass there is.

From Paper Planes to Real Aircraft

Look at different aircraft and you'll notice something strange:

Their wings aren't all the same shape.

A fighter jet, passenger plane, cargo aircraft and glider are designed to do very different jobs.

Engineers change wing size, shape and other features to balance things such as lift, drag, stability, speed and efficiency.

Your paper planes are a much simpler version of the same engineering challenge.

Try next

• See how stored energy and launch force combine with wing design → [Launch Lab]

•  Investigate how changing mass and balance point affects glide distance → [The Ghost Glider]