Float, Float, Float the Boat by: Maalik Vandervall

Design challenge The challenge was to construct a boat that can hold the most mass without sinking

Rationale The reason why I chose this design is because it gives the pennies a flat base to drop on . Also it has the balloon because when the boat starts to sink it holds the boat up, with the air in the balloon.

Problem question What affect does mass have on a boats ability to float

Variable identification Independent : the bowl Dependent : Tape , water level , balloon size Control :

HYPOTHESIS If the mass increases within a boat , then the boat is affected and will be more likely to sink because the increased mass will cause the boat to loose buoyancy .

Materials & procedures Plastic bowl , tape that is 11 inches , water , pennies that are 1.6 grams, balloon's , a container that is dense like a bucket , 1. get a container or bucket and fill it a ¾ full 2. construct your final design 3. get pennies 4. place your design in the water 5. start putting your pennies , try to spread them around your base evenly 6. record your data

Experimental results TRIAL NUMBER OF PENNIES FLOAT TIME 1 49 pennies 45.2 seconds 2 12 pennies 55 seconds 3 20 pennies 60 seconds 4 8 pennies 38.3 seconds 5 27 pennies 1 minute, 46 seconds 6 17 pennies 50 seconds 7 1 minute, 30 seconds The average amount of pennies my boat will float the longest is 21 pennies.

Float, Float, Float the Boat

Conclusion What if learned from this experiment is that the more pennies I added , the faster the boat lost it’s buoyancy and sank. I also learned that if you put the pennies on one specific side that it will cause the boat to lean towards the side with the most mass on it. And also that the amount of the tape you use could affect how the boat sink and if you put it on to tight it will pop when it gets to much weight on it .