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A paper airplane wing creates lift by imparting a downward momentum to the air flowing above and below it. The rate of change of momentum is equal to Force (Newton's 2nd law), and therefore a reaction force pushes the wing up, producing lift (Newton's 3rd law).
The act of imparting a downward momentum ("downwash") to the air results from an air pressure differential around the wing. If you know the pressure above the wing and the pressure below the wing, and the wing area, you can calculate the lift force on the wing since Force = Pressure x Area. If you don't know the pressures, you can get a rough estimate if you know what the average air velocities are above and below the wing. By employing Bernoulli's Principle, you can calculate a pressure difference corresponding to the difference in velocity.
Note that there is no requirement that the air molecules separating at the leading edge and flowing below the wing meet up with the same molecules that flow over the top. This is called the "equal transit time theory" and is a popular science myth that unfortunately has found it's way into flight manuals and even some undergraduate texts. However, aerodynamicists have known ever since they started doing wind tunnel testing that the air flowing over a lifting wing reaches the trailing edge sooner than the air below it. Even a flat wing, such as with the paper airplane, induces a higher air speed above the wing than below it. This can be explained in terms of the circulation theory, which is an advanced concept.
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What makes a paper plane fly longest?
More lift, less drag, more thrust, better aerodynamics
Does the size of the paper airplane effect how long it will stay in the air?
With more surface area on the wings of the paper airplane there will be more air providing lift for the plane. If the mass of the plane is increased less than the surface area of the plane is increased, then the ratio of the force of gravity to force of lift should decrease, theoretically, allowing the plane to stay in the air longer. There are other significant factors in how long the paper airplane will stay air born. The Launch speed is directly proportional to the amount of air moving over the wings which provides lift. However, the larger the plane and the lighter the material is the more likely the plane will deform at high launch speeds or from launching the plane by holding to far back on the plane during launch, which will make the plain more likely to drop from lack of lift if the plane deforms too much.
What came 1st the paper plane or real plane?
Paper
What are the best paper plane materials?
Printer Paper make the best paper plane.
What distance can go a paper plane?
Depends on the paper used and how the paper plane was constructed.
How much lift does an airplane need to fly?
It depends on the mass of the plane. The heavier the plane, the more lift it needs.
What is the function of the wing of a plane?
To lift the plane and enable it to fly.
What does the wing do on a plane?
It provides lift to keep the plane airborne.
What are the things on top of a plane called to lift the plane?
airfoils
How does aerofoil cause the plane to lift?
Aerofoils are able to lift the plane by wind speed, and wind direction. Aerofoils can also lift the plane up by its shape when bent downward of an aeronautical wing shape. - Aerospace engineering
What makes a plane ascend and what makes a plane descend?
lift.... Gravity
Why does the size of a paper airplane affect flight?
With more surface area on the wings of the paper airplane there will be more air providing lift for the plane. If the mass of the plane is increased less than the surface area of the plane is increased, then the ratio of the force of gravity to force of lift should decrease, theoretically, allowing the plane to stay in the air longer. There are other significant factors in how long the paper airplane will stay air born. The Launch speed is directly proportional to the amount of air moving over the wings which provides lift. However, the larger the plane and the lighter the material is the more likely the plane will deform at high launch speeds or from launching the plane by holding to far back on the plane during launch, which will make the plain more likely to drop from lack of lift if the plane deforms too much.
