Course:VANT149/2024/Capstone/Science/Team22

Abstract

This project investigates the effect of paper planes with different airfoils on flight performance, mainly focusing on flight distance and trajectory, which is motivated by students’ interest in hands-on learning and practice applications of aerodynamics. This study analyzed four distinct designs: the basic model, the widened wing model (WW), the upward convex curvature model (UCC), and the downward convex curvature model (DCC). A series of experiments were conducted under controlled conditions to measure flight distance and trajectories. The findings show that UCC achieved the best flight performance with the longest distance and most consistent trajectory, while WW failed to sustain flight due to excessive drag. These results highlight the important impact of airfoil shape on flight efficiency and provide a more accessible way to understand aerodynamics and its applications.

Biographies

Kinsley Peng (She/Her/Hers)

Kinsley Peng is an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia. She intends to major in Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science. From a young age, she has been passionate about adventure activities in nature. During her travels, she developed an interest in the natural formation of landscapes and a strong curiosity about how Earth’s processes shape our environment.

Ruijia Wang(He/Him/His)

Ruijia Wang is  a first-year student at University of British Columbia with a strong proficiency in physics. He enjoys exploring the mysteries of science, combining theory and experiments, and aims to achieve academic excellence and breakthroughs in the field of physics.