Paper airplanes must generate enough lift to oppose the weight. The plane gains lift by moving through the air with the initial velocity that is created by throwing the plane. But, because the plane is flying through the air, it has drag, which is an opposing force like friction on the ground. The paper airplane’s velocity will quickly decrease, due to the drag, and the plane will fall to the floor.

In terms of physic, the airplane is staying afloat because it is trading potential energy for kinetic energy, which equals velocity. As the gliders lose altitude, they convert potential energy into kinetic energy, which keeps the plane in motion. This is an example of the conservation of energy because most of the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and no energy is lost.

Some topics in this essay:
NASA Website, , Newton’s Third, paper airplane, kinetic energy, paper airplanes, plane motion, potential energy, energy kinetic energy, potential energy kinetic, acts plane, drag weight, drag occurs, airplane motion, lift drag,