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How paper airplanes fly according to Newtonian mechanics.

Article in European Journal of Applied Physics · July 2020

DOI: 10.24018/ejphysics.2020.2.4.9

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 How paper airplanes fly according to Newton.
A one page summary.

Mr. Nicholas Landell-Mills

16 June 2023
Pre-Print DOI: None
CC License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Keywords: Newton; paper airplanes; physics.
Independent Research
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Fig. 1a. A paper airplane trajectory.

Abstract
Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma) provides a straightforward explanation for how paper airplanes fly or glide. Simply put,
the paper airplane flies through a mass of air that its wings accelerate downwards, generating lift.

of air pulled downwards by the topside of the wings. The flat

1. SUMMARY wing design also explains why paper airplanes are prone to stall
easily. They fly best at a high airspeed and/or high wing AOA.

Additional key features of paper airplane flight include:

A. A Newtonian explanation of lift.
For a paper airplane in stable downward glide (flight) through
static air, which has a positive angle of attack (AOA). The paper
airplane flies through a mass of air (m), which it accelerates (a)
downwards and slightly forwards, to create a downward force
(Force DOWN), as shown by the equation: See Fig. 1b.
Force DOWN = ma
- Paper airplanes are uncontrolled and lack a vertical tail and
horizontal stabiliser.
- Paper airplanes typically lack structural stiffness, and
therefore, cannot withstand large forces.
- Paper airplanes lack mass, and therefore, lack momentum
that can be transferred to the air to generate lift. This limits
the distance that they can be thrown.

The inertia of the air allows for a reactive equal and opposite
upward force to be generated (Force UP), which provides lift.
This process can be described by the equations:
Force DOWN = Force UP (Lift) = ma
- The low mass means that little lift is needed to fly.
- Paper airplane lacks an engine, and therefore, must glide
and cannot sustain flight for long.
- The paper airplane design (ailerons, elevators, ….) can be
altered to adjust the airflows produced, and therefore, the
direction and size of the forces generated.
- Conventional paper airplanes have a delta-wing design,
which can benefit lift from Leading Edge Vortices (LEVs)
on the topside of the wings at a high wing AOA.
- Similar to conventional airplanes, paper airplanes generate
wingtip vortices in their wake. See Fig. 1c.

Fig. 1b. Newtonian forces acting on a paper airplane.

Momentum is transferred from the paper airplane to the air to

generate lift, causing the paper airplane’s velocity to fall during
flight. This means that as the paper airplane descends it trades
altitude for airspeed, and airspeed for lift.

Paper airplanes are also noteworthy due to their ability to fly Fig. 1c. Paper airplane flying through smoke.
and glide despite their flat (straight) wings, as compared to the Source: Wake Turbulence From a Paper Airplane; Feb 13, 2020;
YouTube Channel: Nick Schrader; https://youtu.be/jYbRARW9q2s.
curved wing design seen on conventional airplanes. The flat
wings produce a minimal Coanda effect and restrict the amount

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