PROTOTYPE
Raingutter Regatta challenge
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A boat is a watercraft design to float. Types of boats range from canoes to catamarans to cargo carriers. We challenge your team to make a boat that can ferry a Ping-Pong passenger!
MATERIALS PER TEAM
• Masking tape
• 3–5 paint stirrers
• 3 playing cards
• 2 plastic sandwich bags
• 2 rubber bands
• 2 drinking straws
• 1 Ping—Pong ball
• 3 oz paper cup
BRAINSTORM AND DESIGN
A winning rain gutter racer stays on an even keel, moves in a straight line, keeps the bow above water and does not drag. If your boat does all this, it finishes ahead of any boat that can’t. Modifications for speed include the placement of the keel and rudder and different sail shapes, sizes, and location of the sail. Friction, forces, the effect of surface area and design are some of the physical phenomena students encounter in this challenge.
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Raingutters on sawhorses
Raingutters on sawhorses
Raingutters on sawhorses---
Raft prototype---
Keel added to raft design at right angles
Keel prototype in water |
| 20120220 Lowes LBST Regatta |
