SCIENCE 5
Mini-Science Investigatory Project
Group Number: __________
TASK TITLE: The Relationship Between Shape and Distance Traveled in Paper
Airplanes
You are going to apply the scientific method to test which paper airplane design is
more effective in flying the farthest distance.
BACKGROUND
Matter can change shape but still remain the same substance. The way matter is
shaped affects how it behaves. In this project, students will test how the shape of
paper (same material) affects its ability to fly as an airplane.
PROBLEM/QUESTION
Does the shape (design) of a paper airplane affect how far it can fly?
HYPOTHESIS
(Example) If the paper airplane has a longer and narrower design, then it will fly
farther than a short, wide design.
(Write your guess in one sentence.)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
MATERIALS
3 sheets of bond paper (same size and kind)
Measuring tape/ruler
Open space (hallway or classroom)
Notebook for recording results
PROCEDURE
1. Fold 3 different styles of paper airplanes (e.g., dart/narrow, wide glider, short
stubby).
2. Stand at the same starting point for each throw.
3. Throw each airplane with the same effort.
4. Measure the distance flown (from starting line to where it lands).
5. Repeat 3 trials for each design.
6. Record and compare results.
DATA COLLECTION
Table 1. Comparison of Paper Airplane Designs
Trial Airplane Observation Distance Straightness Stability Ease of Total
Design (Flight Flown of Path (0–3) (0–3) Throwing Score
Behavior) (cm) (0–3)
1
Scoring Guide:
0 – Poor (did not fly properly)
1 – Fair (flew but very short/unstable)
2 – Good (flew a reasonable distance, somewhat stable)
3 – Excellent (flew far, stable, straight)
OBSERVATION
1. Which paper airplane design flew the farthest?
___________________________________________________________________
2. Which design flew the shortest?
___________________________________________________________________
3. Was your hypothesis correct? Why or why not?
___________________________________________________________________
4. What did you learn about how the shape of paper affects how it moves through
air?
___________________________________________________________________
5. If you could improve one of your airplane designs, what would you change?
___________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
1.
The airplane design that flew the farthest was __________________.
My hypothesis was (correct / incorrect).
We learned that the___________________________________________.
2.
The best airplane design was __________________.
We realized that___________________________________________________.
3.
My experiment proved that __________________ design was most effective.
I discovered that _______________________________________________
4.
The results showed that __________________ design traveled the farthest distance.
Next time, I would try __________________ to improve my design.
5.
From this project, I found out that __________________ flies farther than the others.
This taught me that ________________________________________________
RUBRIC:
Criteria Excellent Good (8) Fair (6) Needs Points
(10) Improvement
(4–below)
1. Hypothesis Hypothesis Hypothesis Hypothesis No hypothesis ____ /
is clearly stated but is vague or written. 10
stated, lacks not fully
logical, and clarity. testable.
testable.
2. Procedure & Followed all Followed Some steps Did not ____ /
Performance steps most steps missing or follow 10
correctly, correctly, confusing. procedure
neat and minor properly.
systematic. errors.
3. Data Data table is Data table Data is No data ____ /
Collection & complete, is mostly incomplete recorded. 10
Table organized, complete, or lacks
and accurate. minor clarity.
errors.
4. Observations All guiding Most Few Observations ____ /
questions questions questions missing or not 10
answered answered, answered, related.
with clear, some lack vague
detailed detail. responses.
observations.
5. Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion No conclusion ____ /
& Learning clearly states states incomplete written. 10
best method, results but or unclear.
checks lacks
hypothesis, depth.
and reflects
on learning.
TOTAL SCORE: ___________________
INDIVIDUAL GRADE:
NAME TASK SIGNATURE POINTS