Paper Plane Academy › Science project
A paper airplane science project
A good paper plane experiment is a fair test: change one thing, keep everything else the same, and measure what happens. Fold two or three planes that differ in just that one way, throw each one at least five times the same way, measure how far (or how long) it flies, and compare the averages.
Paper Plane Academy · Checked 14 November 2026
1. Pick a question
One question, about one thing you can change. Any of these makes a good project:
2. Name your variables
- Independent: what you changeOnly one thing, like the design. Everything else stays the same.
- Dependent: what you measureHow far it flies, in metres or feet, or how long it stays up, in seconds.
- Controlled: what you keep the sameThe paper, the thrower, the throw, the launch line, the room. Fold each plane from the same template.
3. Write a hypothesis
Say what you think will happen, and why, before you throw anything: “If a plane has bigger wings, then it will stay up longer, because bigger wings make more lift.”
The “because” is where the science is. Why paper planes fly explains lift, drag and weight, and its glide lab lets you try a guess before you fold anything.
4. What you need
- Paper from one packPlain printer paper, every sheet the same, unless paper is what you’re testing.
- The same folds every timePrint a template for each design (every crease numbered): Dart, Glider, Suzanne and more in the Academy.
- A long room, indoorsWind ruins a fair test. A hall or a gym is best; world records are flown indoors too.
- Tape measure and stopwatchMasking tape for a launch line, and a phone’s stopwatch for time in the air.
5. Run the test
- Fold each plane carefully, from its template, with sharp creases. Fold two of each if you can, in case one gets crushed.
- Tape a launch line on the floor. The thrower stands behind it every time.
- Throw the same way every time: the same person, the same height, the same strength, level. Practise a few throws first.
- Throw each plane five times or more, taking turns between planes so you don’t just get better at throwing as you go.
- Measure each throw from the line to where the plane first touches the floor (not where it slides to), or time it from your hand to the floor.
- Write every throw down, even the bad ones, then work out each plane’s average.
6. Record your results
Copy this table into your notebook, with a row for each plane:
| Plane | Throw 1 | Throw 2 | Throw 3 | Throw 4 | Throw 5 | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dart | ||||||
| Glider | ||||||
| Suzanne |
Then draw a bar chart, one bar per plane for its average, and say whether your hypothesis was right. If two planes are close, they may really be the same: one more round of throws can tell.
7. Explain what you found
Slim planes with a firm nose usually fly farther: they’re fast and make little drag. Planes with big wings usually stay up longer: big wings make lift even when slow. A plane that stalls or dives may be out of trim rather than a bad design; troubleshooting shows how to tell.
Surprises make the best write-ups. When Fold’N Fly tested heavier and lighter paper with the same dart, they found the paper’s weight made very little difference to how far it flew. Does yours agree?
Questions
What are the variables in a paper airplane experiment?
The independent variable is the one thing you change, like the design or the paper. The dependent variable is what you measure: how far it flies, or how long it stays up. Everything else, like the thrower, the throw and the room, is controlled: kept the same.
What is a good hypothesis for a paper airplane project?
Say what you think will happen and why: “If a plane has bigger wings, then it will stay up longer, because bigger wings make more lift.” Then test it fairly. A hypothesis that turns out wrong is still a good result.
How many times should you throw each plane?
At least five times each, and take the average. One throw can be lucky or unlucky; five or more show what a plane really does. Throw the planes in turns, not all of one first, so you don’t just get better as you go.
How do you measure how far a paper airplane flies?
Tape a launch line on the floor and measure in a straight line from it to where the plane first touches the floor, not where it slides to. A long tape measure works; so do floor tiles of a known size.
Which paper airplane design flies the farthest?
That’s the experiment! Slim planes with a firm nose, thrown hard, usually go farthest; broad-winged gliders stay up longer but go slower. Suzanne held the world distance record from 2012 to 2022.