Slope and Paper Airplanes

You may have students work individually or in groups of 2 or 3.

You may wish to have students do brief research on how to make a paper airplane or what is believed to be the best approach to making a paper airplane.

Each student (even if working in groups) will be given a sheet of paper.

Each student should construct their own paper airplane.

Each student will fly their paper airplane with the other members of the class or group marking the height of the release point. This will be the change in the Y direction they will need to calculate the slope of the airplane.

The other members of the class or group will also need to mark exactly where on the floor the paper airplane first hits. The horizontal distance between the release point and first place the plane hits the floor will also need to be measured. This will be the change in the X direction they will need to calculate the slope of the airplane.