8P8 - Boat

Using aluminum foil, I built a boat designed to hold as many pennies as possible before sinking. I wanted to explore how different boat shapes affect buoyancy and weight distribution. Through testing, I discovered that small changes in design can make a big difference in how much weight the boat can support.

During this process, I learned that boats float because of how they spread out weight across their surface. A wider base helps distribute weight more evenly, preventing the boat from sinking too quickly. I also learned that small adjustments, like folding the edges higher, can keep water out and improve how well the boat stays afloat.

The 7 standards of the class are Empowered Learner, Digital Citizen, Knowledge Constructor, Innovative Designer, Computational Thinker, Creative Communicator, and Global Collaborator. My project ties to Innovative Designer because I tested different designs to find the best way to hold more pennies. I had to think creatively, problem-solve, and adjust my approach when certain designs didn’t work.

One challenge I overcame in this project was improving the boat’s ability to hold more weight. At first, my design sank quickly and could only support a few pennies. I solved this problem by making the base wider and shaping the edges to prevent water from getting in, which allowed the boat to hold more weight.

Given a chance to do this again, I would change how I fold and shape the foil to make the boat stronger. The reason why I would change it is because different folds and designs might help it hold more pennies without sinking. Finding the best way to shape the foil could make the boat more sturdy and effective. 

Hastings High School Career and Technical Education Program offers Agriculture, Business Management, Computer Programming, Construction Trades, Culinary Arts, Digital Multimedia, Engineering Design, Finance, Insurance, and Marketing. My project connects to the Engineering Design CTE program at Hastings High School because I designed, tested, and improved a small-scale structure to achieve a specific goal. This project helped me develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

My project connects to careers in naval engineering and physics because it involves understanding buoyancy, weight distribution, and how design affects performance in water. Professionals in these fields focus on improving watercraft stability and efficiency using scientific principles, which my experiment helped me better understand.

"This project explanation was refined with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot."