Cardboard Boat Project
Boats come in all sizes, shapes, and colors!
And, some have trouble going the same direction as others!
Have you ever wondered how a large supertanker filled with oil can float?
Objects submerged in a fluid such as water appear to weigh less than they do when they are not in the water. The liquid exerts a buoyant force on the object.
Archimedes is credited with discovering that the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the displaced fluid. He is said to have discovered this principle in his bath while trying to think of a way to determine whether the king's new crown was gold or a fake. Legend says that he ran naked through the streets shouting, "Eureka."
Objective:
And, some have trouble going the same direction as others!
Have you ever wondered how a large supertanker filled with oil can float?
Objects submerged in a fluid such as water appear to weigh less than they do when they are not in the water. The liquid exerts a buoyant force on the object.
Archimedes is credited with discovering that the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the displaced fluid. He is said to have discovered this principle in his bath while trying to think of a way to determine whether the king's new crown was gold or a fake. Legend says that he ran naked through the streets shouting, "Eureka."
Objective:
- To build a boat out of cardboard and tape capable of holding one person that can be paddled across a pool.
Materials:
- Only cardboard and tape may be used to construct the boat.
- You may NOT use any other objects to contribute to the structural rigidity or the craft's flotation ability.
- You may only use 20 yards of duct tape provided by your teacher. NO GLUE!
Constraints
- The maximum length is 7 feet. Your boat must be wide enough to fit through the doorway.
- Swimming on a cardboard surfboard is not allowed. No appendages are allowed in the water.
- All boats may be propelled through the water by utilizing the paddle that is provided by the instructor.
- Layered cardboard is not allowed beyond two layers.
Timeline
- Feb 25, Foil Boat Challenge, Brainstorming
- Feb 26, Diagram of boat DUE
- Feb 26, 27, 28, Boat building
- March 1, Final Boat DUE, Sailing Day!
- March 2 by 11:59pm, Summary of Project is DUE; Self-Assessment is DUE
Grading
- There will be individual grades for each member. Not participating, being on your cellular device, or working on other assignments will result in a loss of your daily points.
- There will be a group grade for your boat. This group grade will count as one daily grade. Your teammate must be in the boat.
- Any boat that even makes it off the starting line will earn 40 points.
- Any boat that successfully negotiates one-quarter of the pool's length will receive 60 points.
- Any boat that successfully negotiates one-half of the pool's length will receive 70 points.
- Any boat that successfully negotiates three-quarters of the pool's length will receive 85 points.
- Any boat that successfully negotiates the entire length of the pool will receive 100 points.
- A one paragraph description of how you would change your design. In other words, what part of your design was effective? What part of your design did not work? How would you change it? 25 pts
- Describe three things that you saw other students do that you consider being very effective and explain why you found them effective. 25 pts
- Archimedes Principle states that "The buoyant force on a body immersed in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by that object." An object floats when its weight is equal to the buoyant force. Write a one-paragraph description of how this principle applies to the flotation of your boat. 25 pts
- Describe how you would calculate the buoyant force exerted on your boat by the water. What measurements would you take and how would you interpret them? 25 pts