Build a Boat

HOPE IT FLOATS LAB

You and your partner have been selected to design and build a metal boat that will float. The boat will be used as a trash barge that will take the trash in your area (no more room to burry it) to another part of the U.S. so it can be disposed of properly. If you can create a boat that will take away all the trash your city creates (200 grams: small city, 350 grams: mediumcity, 500 grams:large city), all will be well. If your designs cannot handle the trash, your city will be buried and the people of your city will cease to exist(bad).

Use the Science and Engineering Practices to develop testable designs that could possibly save the city.

  1. PURPOSE:
  2. What is the problem or what question are you addressing in this lab challenge?
  1. DEVELOP MODELS/PROTOTYPES:
  2. Draw/Sketchat least 3 possible designs.
  3. Give each design you create a name.

(Sketch your 3 boat designs HERE)

  1. CONSTRUCT AN EXPLANATION:
  2. Which design you think will work best. (flat, round, box, taco, deep hull, etc.):
  3. Explain “why” this design might best support a lot of mass (cargo).
  1. ANALYZING DATACreate a data table that includes important information you can measure: design type, volume, surface area, weight supported,mass of boat,etc. for each design you test (include units).

Design / Mass of Boat (grams) / Bottom Surface Area (cm2)
(Length x Width) / Volume or Displacement (cm3)
(Length x Width x Height) / Total Mass Floated
(grams)
1
2
3
4 / 3.5 grams
  1. MATHEMATICS & COMPUTATIONAL THINKING
  2. Calculations: Calculate (show your work) the efficiency of your boats: mass floated vs. boat mass. (DIVIDEthe mass FLOATED by MASS OF THE BOAT (3.5 grams))
  3. Use your data and calculations above to make a 4th boat that will float the most cargo.
  1. ARGUMENT FROM EVIDENCE:
  2. Defend which of your boat designs worked best and why. Support your claim with data you collected or calculations you made.
  3. What did you learn from making the boats in terms of density, buoyancy, surface area, and displacement? What is key to making boats that float?
  4. Which boat design would work best for calm waters? Which type of boat would work best for rough seas? Explain based on your experience testing the boats you created.
  5. Sketch your “best” design and explain why it worked the best out of all your boats.

This lab utilizes thescientific & engineering practices to explore: buoyancy, density, mass, volume, displacement, &surface area.

10/24/2018