Boat Lab (Kodel)

Author(s)

Alan Kodel Vaughn Next Century Learning Center

NGSS Engineering Standards

Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

NGSS Engineering Standards

PROBLEM - Students will try and figure out how to maximize the carrying capacity of shipping vessels.

DESIGN - Students are to design a boat made out of aluminum foil and will then calculate it's density. Students are limited by the amount of material they can use. A

OPTIMIZATION - Students will design one boat with the allowed materials and see how many pennies that boat can hold before sinking. Students write a short reflection about the success of their boat or other groups that they observe. Each group will then design a second boat with the intention of it holding more pennies then their previous boat.

Materials needed

Each team is limited to 1 sheet of paper and one sheet of aluminum foil for the boat design.

Students will use a bucket of water and pennies to test the boat's carrying capacity.

Procedure

Provide a step by step procedure that explains the engineering activity

Buoyancy lab report.docx

1. A boat will be built with a box like shape using no more than 1 sheet of aluminum foil and one sheet of 8"11" printer paper.

2. Measure the mass of the boat.

3. Measure the volume of the boat

4. Calculate the density of the boat

5. Place the boat in water and place pennies in the boat one at a time until the boat sinks

6. Record the number of pennies the boat could hold before sinking

7. Collaborate with team to revise your boat, and rebuild a second boat

8. Repeat the procedure to test the second boat

9. Record the number of pennies the second boat could hold before sinking.

Questions

How did the density of your 2 boats affect how many pennies they could carry. The lower the density, the more pennies the boat was able to hold.
How are ships that are made of metal able to float. The overall density of the boat is lower than water.
If you were an designing an actual shipping vessel, what is something you would include in the design to allow it to bear more weight. Lighter materials, wider base etc...

Photos

Movies

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References

Provide links to relevant websites.

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