Final answer:
Thrust for paper airplanes is provided by the airflow over the wings and body of the airplane, which creates a difference in air pressure and generates lift and propel the airplane forward.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thrust is the force that propels a paper airplane forward. It is produced by the air pushing against the wings and the body of the airplane as it moves through the air. When a paper airplane is thrown, the air flowing over and under the wings creates a difference in air pressure.
This difference in pressure creates lift, which is the upward force that keeps the paper airplane in the air, and also generates thrust that propels the airplane forward.
For example, when you blow air across a strip of paper, the faster-moving air on top creates lower air pressure compared to the slower-moving air on the bottom.
This creates lift, causing the paper strip to rise. When two strips of paper are held apart and air is blown between them, the faster-moving air creates lower pressure, causing the two strips to be drawn closer together. This is similar to how the wings of a paper airplane create lift and thrust.
Therefore, the combination of lift and thrust, created by the design and shape of the paper airplane, determines how far it can fly.