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Plane and Simple: Glider Design Test

Build a lightweight paper glider, change its wing or weight, and measure how far each version flies.

Grade 5BuildExperimentEngineeringSciencePhysicsEngineeringMeasurementIntermediate40 to 60 min6 materials

What you'll learn

  • Name the four forces on a plane: lift, weight, thrust and drag
  • Change one variable at a time in a fair test
  • Use averages to decide which design is best

Objective

Test how wing size and nose weight change a glider's flight distance and explain why.

STEM concepts

Lift and dragCenter of massFair testingAerodynamics
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Materials and safety
Step-by-step instructions
Prediction, test sheet and results
Why does it work, challenge and project report

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