I had an airplane lab, where we made our own paper airplanes and what not. We had to throw them several times, while adding paperclips for every 3 trials. Now my question is, as my mass increased, my average time for each trial decreased. Is that wrong, or does it make sense? If it is incorrect, what can be used to justify it: example drag, friction, etc. Thank you so much in advance!
-
Much depends on where the additional paperclips were placed, which would make a huge difference if not placed in a balanced way.
But yes, as mass increases, the "angle of attack" of the aircraft must increase, to provide more lift for the extra mass. When the angle of attack increases, lift increases, but so does drag. Friction and drag are closely related, friction being the resistance to your plane moving in the air against its surfaces, and drag having 2 classifications:
1) Drag induced by such as increase in angle of attack (lift), known as dynamic drag, and:
2) Drag induced by parts of the aircraft that do not contribute to lift or control., e.g. the paper clips. It is termed parasitic drag.
It is not unreasonable to find that flight duration will decrease when mass/ angle of attack increase.
Note that manned performance gliders often carry water as ballast to increase the mass, as more mass can improve penetration into air flow, and smooth out the control of the glider, especially under turbulent conditions. The water is usually jettisoned shortly before landing.
But yes, as mass increases, the "angle of attack" of the aircraft must increase, to provide more lift for the extra mass. When the angle of attack increases, lift increases, but so does drag. Friction and drag are closely related, friction being the resistance to your plane moving in the air against its surfaces, and drag having 2 classifications:
1) Drag induced by such as increase in angle of attack (lift), known as dynamic drag, and:
2) Drag induced by parts of the aircraft that do not contribute to lift or control., e.g. the paper clips. It is termed parasitic drag.
It is not unreasonable to find that flight duration will decrease when mass/ angle of attack increase.
Note that manned performance gliders often carry water as ballast to increase the mass, as more mass can improve penetration into air flow, and smooth out the control of the glider, especially under turbulent conditions. The water is usually jettisoned shortly before landing.