Origami with Fluid

In this section, I briefly explored what happens when origami and fluid are together.

Water and Origami Boat

Origami boat with flat bottom

These are three examples of flat bottom origami boats. Although their shapes are different, they all need to be turning inside out as the last step of folding. On the water, all three origami boats are very stable. The blue boat has an upturned bow due to shape.

From the wet area of the bottom of the boats, due to some errors in origami, these ships are not completely symmetrical. The hull will tilt slightly towards the heavier side, causing the hull on one side to become slightly wet.

Origami boat with edge as bottom

Here are two common origami boats that use the edge as bottom. On the water, the performance of the two boats is very different. The orange boat, which has double edges, is more stable on the water. While the red one’s hull is actually in contact with the water, instead of the bottom edge.

Air and Origami Aircraft

Paper plane

There are many different folding methods for paper planes, but the final shapes are all similar. Most importantly, they all have a heavier head, and they all need a forward force when they are thrown.

Origami hang gliding

The yellow origami gliding wing is heavier in the middle and lighter on the sides. It will rotate autonomously when landing. No initial power is required, letting go from high to glide.

The purple gliding wing mimics the shape of the space shuttle, but during testing it was found that it did not stay well in the air. It needs a forward momentum and then flips after a brief glide in the air.

The blue origami gliding wing has a heavier front and smaller wings. No initial power is needed, and after letting go from a high place, it will automatically glide forward for a long distance.

Origami with air blowing

In the Yoshizawa–Randlett System, there is a special symbol for inflating an origami.

For example, the paper lantern we folded before needs to be inflated as the last step. Many other origami that require air blowing are similar in shape.
Another type of origami is that it will have some movement with air blowing. For example, the Kresling pattern tube we had for Origami for a wind sensor will stretch during blowing.
The small rocket below can also be launched by blowing into the straw.