Glider's Design Competition part 2

During the whole of week 15, we were experimenting on propellers, to see whether propellers will actually help our glider to glide further. 

The material for the propeller : 

1. Recycled paper clips
2. Scotch tapes

Since all the above materials are found common in house, so the cost for this part is totally free. 

We attach the propeller to the tip of the glider. 

To attach the propeller to the tip of the glider, we first use those thumbtacks as a rotating support. Then we add a little blue-tacks  at the rotating support's tip. This is to prevent the propeller from flying out. 

After we attached to the glider, its time for us to have a test run. While during the test flight process, we realize that the glider does not glide as far and as well as the one before we attach the propeller. We were suspecting that the total combine weight of the propeller and the rotating axis cause the front of the glider to be heavy, and thus causing it to lose velocity when it glides in the air. We try different type of rotating axis, to find out which type does not affect the gliding process as much as possible. But we are not able to solve the problem. In the end, we just do it without the propeller.

Since gliders will smash into the walls from time to time, the head of the glider will be broken. In order to solve this problem, I added some simple supports to the nose of the glider. This is to help support the nose so as to prevent the nose to receive a lot of the impact. 

The enhance nose

I tried to fly it, but it will do stunts instead. Then we add some blue-tack to the nose. This is to balance out the weight, and to give it more glide. After we added, the glider glides very smoothly. Also, we realize that the speed of the glider increase once we add the nose support. 

The material used for the nose support

1. Remaining foam board.

For this, I used double sided tape, to attach the nose support to the nose of the glider. With the nose support, it does really help to absorb the impact, and also to prevent the nose from breaking.