Glider Challenge: Design Phase

1) What's the challenge?

• The challenge was to construct a glider using balsa wood sticks, tissue paper, and glue.

2) Brainstorm solutions:
-What are the rules of brainstorming? (oxymoron)
-List your ideas
-Sketch at least two of them

• Write down everything, don't dismiss anything.

1. Use the thick stick as the body, the thin sticks as the wings and tail, and tissue paper panels in a classic airplane design.
2. Attach struts to strengthen the wings so that they won't break in strong winds.
3. Glue a wad of tissue paper to the front to weigh down the front end to prevent the glider from stalling.

3) Specify:
-Criteria
-Constraints (be specific about materials available)

• The glider needs to be able to last at least one second in the air after launch.
• Materials:
• One thick piece of balsa wood.
• Six thin pieces of balsa wood.
• Two square feet of tissue paper.

4) Develop Solutions:
-Sketch (with labels)
-Model in CAD

Solution sketch of glider