Restricted © Siemens AG 2015siemens.co.uk/curiosity-project Float the boat The Curiosity Project

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Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 3 Siemens Siemens was established in the United Kingdom more than 170 years ago and now employs over 13,000 people in the UK. As the world’s largest engineering company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges. The Curiosity Project by Siemens The UK needs more engineers and through our Curiosity Project, we aim to bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to life, by supporting leading organisations that reach out and nurture the innate curiosity in young people and showcase the amazing and rewarding opportunities a career in engineering can provide. This workshop is part of the project and you can find more details at siemens.co.uk/curiosity-project.

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 4 Learning outcomes Practise and recognise the steps of the engineering design process used to create a floatable object. Understand why different objects float. Work in teams to succeed at an engineering challenge.

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 5 What is floating?

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 6 Can you engineer a floating object?

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 7 Archimedes’ principle This scientific principle states that an object will float if it pushes, or moves, as much water as it weighs. Boats are shaped to displace a large amount of water as they float. If the amount of water that is pushed out of the way by a boat weighs more than the materials used to make that boat, then it will float.

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 8 Plimsoll and waterlines If weight is added to a floating object, or if it fills with water, this makes it heavier without changing the surface area, so it may sink. The waterline is the line where the hull of a ship meets the surface of the water, also known as the International Load Line or Plimsoll line. This line is marked on ships to show the legal weight limit that a ship can carry. The more a ship is weighed down, the closer the Plimsoll is to the water surface. Why is the Plimsoll important for safety?

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 9 Whose floating object can carry the biggest load?

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 10 Which designs worked best? Which boat designs seemed to work best? What is it about these designs that made them successful? Which boat designs did not seem to work well? What is it about these designs that made them less successful or unsuccessful?

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 11 Understand the problem Brainstorm a solution Plan itBuild it Test it (Break it) Try again Engineering design process

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 12 Failing to succeed Engineers don’t always get it right. A big part of an engineer’s work is to make it, break it, learn from it, and try again! Top engineers aren’t afraid to fail – making mistakes is one of the best ways to learn.

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 13 Siemens and surfboards