OBJECTIVE:
Design and build an electric boat, by the rules, for 5 meter rain gutter drag race.
BOAT DESIGN
The boat design may be based upon a fan-boat, speedboat, submarine, paddle wheel, or jet-ski.
You will be provided with a propeller, shaft, motor, switch and connectors.
Any other air or water propellers may be taken from an available toy.
PROJECT EVALUATION
Test Grade (100 points possible): 50 points for the Electric Boat and
50 points for Completed Project Worksheet
35 points A boat built according to all of the restrictions shown below:
10 points Boat Dimensions: The size of the rain gutter limits the boat’s size.
Length: The length of the boat must be less than 35 cm from tip to tip.
Width: The width of the boat must be less than 9 cm at all points at the
water’s surface-level.
Depth: The rain gutter has a “U” shaped cross-section and narrows at
its base. It will be filled and have a depth of about 6 cm. Design the boat
to fit and operate within these dimensions.
5 points Battery: The boat may only use the following unmodified common
2) up to six D, C, AA, or AAA batteries.
5 points Motor: The boat must propel itself with only 1 or more electric motors.
You can use the electric motor supplied plus any other from an available
toy or purchased for about $3 at a hobby store. These motors are often
rated 1.5V to 3V, but they work fine with the higher voltages allowed by
the battery restrictions.
15 points Boat Frame: You may purchase propellers, motors, and batteries,
but the boat may not use any manufactured toy boat body. You may use
household, hardware, and hobby store materials only according to their
instructions. Common materials include: plastic bottles, Styrofoam,
balsa wood, wires, switches, battery holders, tape and glue.
15 points As a boat propels itself down the 5 m track it earns +3 points per
meter completed. The boat must meet all of the rules and propel
itself 5 meters at one time to qualify for competition.
The top 3 boats in the race will earn extra credit.
PROJECT WINNER:
