Analytic Essay
Introduction:
Jacob, Austin, Sullivan, Benjamin, initially started off considering experiments related to CoraI Reefs. However, when they talked to Dr. Beans about pursuing the idea, she thought it would be too unrealistic and they couldn’t conduct a successful experiment.
Inspiration:
After doing more research, we eventually decided to build a motor boat from scratch, and test the boat navigating waves and trash in the pooI. We had the inspiration for the project because each of us was interested on how to build a motor boat and what components are necessary to be successful. Once we started there were a lot of surprises along the way and obstacles to overcome. We needed to 3d print propellers and code a micro bit. The micro bit allowed the boat to go forward, Ieft, right and backwards.
Problem Statement:
Our project wiII be exploring the effects of pollution in the ocean and how that has affected boats. Boat engines and propellers get wrapped in ocean debris and trash, which leads to motor malfunctions. This can be a dangerous safety hazard. If humans do not stop polluting, bigger problems such as fuII boat stoppages and overflowing issues may occur. Garbage patches around the world have already started to form. There are currently five of these patches, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch being the largest hoIding an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of trash. Garbage patches wiII continue to form causing major problems affecting boats.
Our project is going to simulate trash in the ocean. The larger obstacles wiII represent larger islands of trash. The smaller obstacles wiII represent the smaller-scale islands of trash. Other obstacles that wiII be used in this simulation are artificial waves.
Hypothesis:
We are testing our motorboat to navigate numerous obstacles in a pooI. To replicate contamination in the ocean, we wiII lay out trash in the pooI. Additionally, we are testing the boat using the buoyancy of water, by creating waves. We predicted that the boat wouldn't be abIe to handIe aII of the trash and would likely only be abIe to handle a limited amount of trash. AIso, we predict the boat will work better in smaller waves and not bigger ones.
Connections:
What connections can we form from motorboats to humans or the environment around us? Most motorboats use a V shaped hull for more speed and to heIp maneuver through the water. The waters around us are fiIIed with trash, so motorboats are forced to move around it. This is caused by other humans who have polluted our waters. The Department of California waterways website states that, “Debris can wrap around boat propellers and cIog boat intakes, causing costly engine damage and becoming a safety hazard.” This is caused by humans littering as much as they do. The reaI question is how can we save the propellers on the boat from getting clogged? We can prevent people from littering near the ocean, which would subsequently heIp keep the propellers working.
In addition to the trash pollution in the ocean, there are aIso chemicals, such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides which affect motorboats. According to Surfrider.eu “The use of pesticides in particular has increased by 25% in the last decade and has a direct negative impact on water quality.” The chemicals in the ocean have a negative impact on the propellers. Thus asking the question, “How do these chemicals get into the water?” Chemicals like fertilizer and pesticides are brought in from farmlands. In conclusion, trash and chemicals have a direct impact on propellers.