The Great 9th Grade Odyssey
This project was named, "The Great 9th Grade Odyssey Project". In this project, students used what they learned in their physics about density, buoyancy, and boats, and used it on our own boats that we built. Before we started building our boats we scaled it on graph paper in a 1/4 sized scale drawing. After that we built 1/4 sized boats out of cardboard, tape, and water bottles to test ideas of designs that would float the best. We used cardboard, clear tape, and water bottles again to build a boat which we then measured its mass and volume to determine its density and see whether or not it would float. To know that we had a good idea of density and buoyancy we demonstrated labs that would show how density and buoyancy works. And finally we sailed our cardboard boats in the bay.
Questions
1) A 7-10 sentence description of how you changed your design after making the foil and 1/4-scale models. In addition, what part of your design was effective? What part of your design did not work? How would you change your design now after testing your full-scale model?
From the aluminum foil design of my boat, I changed the circular base into a rectangular design. I saw that it allowed more space for the weight of the marbles to set on the boat. Then in my 1/4 scale we found out that water bottles beneath the bottom of the base of the boat makes the balance of the boat hard to stabilize. These designs weren't that great but something good about the boat is that it kept up longer because of the two water bottles on the sides. Although after testing our real boat our boat still sank but it did help us keep up longer than we would without water bottles. In the end we would probably change our boat with a bigger base with a good tape job. In this way, we would have a better design for our boat and it would float a lot more effectively
2) Describe three things that you saw other students do that you consider being very effective.
Three things that I saw other students do that was really effectively is,
Archimedes' Principle is a good explanation on why something floats. Objects all have density and can be proven to float or sink. Density that is less than or equal to water's density of 1.0g/mL will sink. Density is determined by its mass and volume. The formula for density is D=MV. So since density affects objects to see whether they sink or float, the question is why did my cardboard boat float? After measuring my boat's mass and volume, I found that my cardboard boat had a density of 0.01g/ML which was way less than the water's density. And after measuring the mass of the boat, I also found that the boat's weight was way less than the buoyant for assuring my group's boat to float along the bay, which also proves Archimedes' Principle. So after finding all of this I learned why my boat was able to float thanks to density and Archimedes' Principle
From the aluminum foil design of my boat, I changed the circular base into a rectangular design. I saw that it allowed more space for the weight of the marbles to set on the boat. Then in my 1/4 scale we found out that water bottles beneath the bottom of the base of the boat makes the balance of the boat hard to stabilize. These designs weren't that great but something good about the boat is that it kept up longer because of the two water bottles on the sides. Although after testing our real boat our boat still sank but it did help us keep up longer than we would without water bottles. In the end we would probably change our boat with a bigger base with a good tape job. In this way, we would have a better design for our boat and it would float a lot more effectively
2) Describe three things that you saw other students do that you consider being very effective.
Three things that I saw other students do that was really effectively is,
- A bigger base was the best design for the boat to float
- Tape was essential tape around everything helped the boat
- Bottles on the side helped the boat float a little longer
Archimedes' Principle is a good explanation on why something floats. Objects all have density and can be proven to float or sink. Density that is less than or equal to water's density of 1.0g/mL will sink. Density is determined by its mass and volume. The formula for density is D=MV. So since density affects objects to see whether they sink or float, the question is why did my cardboard boat float? After measuring my boat's mass and volume, I found that my cardboard boat had a density of 0.01g/ML which was way less than the water's density. And after measuring the mass of the boat, I also found that the boat's weight was way less than the buoyant for assuring my group's boat to float along the bay, which also proves Archimedes' Principle. So after finding all of this I learned why my boat was able to float thanks to density and Archimedes' Principle