To do this, cut slits that are about one inch long right where either wing meets the middle ridge.

Once you have a good idea of about how far your plane typically flies, change the plane’s shape to increase how much drag it experiences.

Did it go about the same distance each time? When you toss it, place your toe on the line and try to launch the plane with a similar amount of force, including gripping it at the same spot. Each time before you throw the plane, make sure it is still in good condition (that the folds and points are still sharp).

Throw the plane at least four more times.

Place your toe on the line you prepared and throw the paper plane.This will be the starting line from which you'll fly the paper plane. Go to a large open area and, using string, a ruler, masking tape, rocks or sticks, make a line in front of you that's at least one foot long, going from left to right.Do not bend up the tailing edge of the wings (step 6 of the online folding instructions). Fold carefully and make your folds as sharp as possible, such as by running a thumbnail or a ruler along each fold to crease it. Fold your paper into the basic dart paper plane.

Make a standard, 'dart' design paper airplane (for instructions, go to the Amazing Paper Airplanes Web page ).Something to make at least a one-foot-long line, such as a long string, another ruler, masking tape, rocks or sticks.If you're flying your paper plane outside, such as in a field, try to do it when there isn't any wind. Large open area in which to fly a paper plane, such as a long hallway, school gym or basketball court.In this activity you will increase how much drag a paper plane experiences and see if this changes how far the plane flies. All of these forces (thrust, lift, drag and gravity) affect how well a given paper plane's voyage goes. The weight of the paper plane also affects its flight, as gravity pulls it down toward Earth. At the same time, air pushing back against the plane is slowing it down, creating a drag force. While the plane is flying forward, air moving over and under the wings is providing an upward lift force on the plane. That push is a type of force called thrust. When you throw a paper plane in the air, you are giving the plane a push to move forward. A force is something that pushes or pulls on something else. The forces that allow a paper plane to fly are the same ones that apply to real airplanes. There's a lot of cool science in this activity, such as how forces act on a plane so it can fly. In this activity you'll get to build a paper plane and change its basic design to see how this affects its flight. But why is this? One factor is the kind of design used to build the plane. Have you ever wondered what makes a paper plane fly? Some paper planes clearly fly better than others.

Simple airplane flying drawing