The Plane Truth

We recently used the launching of paper airplanes (we used index cards in class) to develop our concept of acceleration.

Paper airplanes are wonderful tools for illustrating many physics concepts, but the most fun is from making them and flying them.

We will be having an indoor competition for paper airplanes in two categories:

1) Distance/Displacement: Whose plane can go the furthest?

2) Duration: Whose plane can stay in the air the longest (the world record for this is 27.6 seconds).

The Rules: (check back here before you begin your project as the rules below may be changed)

• All work must be done on your own time, as an individual or as a team (you choose your team, maximum of four people).


• You may use only one 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of paper. The paper may be folded, cut or torn, but you are limited to that one sheet. Make sure you include identifying markings on your plane.


• You may use one paper clip and a small amount of adhesive tape (scotch tape or masking tape) in the construction of your plane.


• You must build two planes: one to fly and one to show how it was constructed.


• you may not use anything other than your hand/arm to lauch the plane.


• You will be allowed three attempts.


• Distance/Displacement will be measured as a direct line from the launch point to the point where the plane's motion stops, no matter which direction the plane traveled in its journey.


• Duration will be timed with a stopwatch.

The deadline will be announced (and published here) shortly. For extra credit, construct your best paper airplane and write a brief (two to four pages, with diagrams) report on one physics concept that can be explained and demonstrated using a paper airplane (not including acceleration). Be prepared to demonstrate this to your class. Prepare a summary handout or activity guide along with your presentation. Be sure to cite any and all information sources used and please, please see me before you begin so we can be clear on what is expected. Please leave a comment below if you intend on doing this.

Hot Wheels Challenge

For our next major project, we will be examining the motion of an unpowered wheeled object (one made by Mattel). Our research question for this next investigation (& ongoing report) is given two similar Hot Wheels cars, how do we determine beyond a doubt which one is faster?

As we discussed in class, this will involve designing experiments, writing procedures, trying them out, rewriting them, trying them out again, and so on until we can accurately answer the question.

The second question, of course, is to come up with definite reasons WHY one is faster than the other.

As we investigate these questions, we will encounter many of the following physics concepts:

• Linear Motion


• Speed


• Velocity


• Acceleration


• Acceleration due to Gravity


• Friction


• Momentum


• Newton's 1st Law

You can use the links on the side of the blog to clarify your understanding of these concepts. Post any questions you have on the blog using the comments link at the bottom of this entry.



Extra Credit Questions - Due by start of class on Tuesday, November 20 (you must show all calculations for credit on question 3) or you can submit your answers as a response on this blog or via email (you should know the email address - you wrote it into your notebooks on the first day or two of class)
1 - What is the scale of a Hot Wheels car? Cite your source.
2 - Give one example of Scalar vs. Vector quantities that we have recently studied (hint: we've studied two topics that include this, althought we never used "scalar" or "vector" in class)
3 - A car is moving at a constant speed of 88 km/hr when a traffic light ahead traffic light changes to red. It takes 8.0 seconds for the car to slow down and stop at the traffic light:
.. a) What is the car's initial velocity?
.. b) What is the car's final velocity?
.. c) What is the car's acceleration?
.. d) How far away from the traffic light was the car when the light changed?