Investigating gliders

Construct a simple, hand-launched or ‘chuck’ glider made from card and wood as shown in the figure.

Find the centre of gravity of the glider by attempting to balance it on your finger. Mark the position of the centre of gravity on the fuselage (wood). Launch the glider from this position.

Investigate the effect of changes to the position of the centre of gravity. Tape some nails to the sides of the fuselage to alter the centre of gravity and measure the glide ratio.

1. What happens if the centre of gravity is too far back?

2. What happens if the centre of gravity is too far forward?

3. Where should the centre of gravity be to obtain the highest glide ratio?

Incorporate wing ailerons, a rudder and elevators into the design, as shown in the figure.

Fly the glider and demonstrate the effects of various combinations of control surfaces. For example: rudder to the right (viewed from the back), left aileron down, right aileron up for turning to the right.

Make your glider turn to the left. Make it climb and dive using the elevators.

Determine which settings create conditions for the greatest distance travelled.

Use your glider to investigate other variables of aircraft design. For example:

· wing area

· length of aircraft

· length of wings

· shape of wing (the following figure shows some different wing shapes)

· tail area

· cross-section of aircraft

· location of wing and tail

· quality of the material covering the aircraft ¾ rough, smooth, shiny.

Design a series of tests to identify and test the effects of changing one variable.