Build a Boat for Scientific Research
Timeframe Description
1-2 Fifty minute class periods
Students will take part in a hypothetical challenge that will
Target Audience help them to better understand the process of engineering and
High School (9th- 12th) designing a boat for scientific research.
Materials Objectives
• Aluminum foil Students will:
• Tape - Apply an understanding of buoyancy
• Clay - Design a boat that floats while carrying a substantial amount of
• Straws weight
• Skewers - Determine what type of design will best meet the given boat
• Pipe cleaners parameters
• Popsicle sticks - Understand tradeoffs that boats make to address various needs/
goals (speed, stability, weight, space)
• Corks
• Cups Essential and Guiding Questions
• Legos What is the best design for a boat that does scientific research?
- How do you get a boat to float with heavy equipment?
- How can you make your boat stable so that you can collect the
best data?
Background Information
The most crucial part of an ocean going venture is most certainly
the vessel itself. A boat is an island unto itself once it leaves the
safety of its dock and heads out on the open seas. Any ship, no
matter what its size, must carry all of the supplies and equipment
Contact:
that its crew will need to live safely for the extent of the voyage.
SMILE Program
[email protected] In the case of research vessels, the vessels must also be equipped
http://smile.oregonstate.edu/ with special tools and technology that allow scientists to explore
ocean environments. Research vessels are highly advanced
traveling research stations. They must be able to offer scientists
stable platforms from which they can deploy equipment, divers,
and submersibles. In addition, these vessels carry electronics,
Next Generation
computers, and navigational and communications systems.
Science Standards
For additional information and resources around ocean exploration
and research vessels go to the NOAA Okeanos Webpage. DISCIPLINARY CORE IDEAS:
ETS1.B.: Deveoping Possible Solutions
How is that ships carrying such heavy loads are able to float?
ETS1.C.: Optimizing the Design
Archimedes Principle can help explain this. The Archimedes
Solution
Principle came from the Greek scientist named Archimedes who
discovered the scientific law of buoyancy. Archimedes figured PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:
out that if the weight of the object being placed in the water is HS-ETS1-2. Design a solution to a
complex real-world problem by breaking
less that the weight of the water displaced, the object will float.
it down into smaller, more manageable
An object will float if it displaces as much water as it weighs. This problems that can be solved through
is known as buoyancy or the Archimedes Principle. A ship made engineering.
HS-ETS1-3. Evaluate a solution to a
out of metal is able to remain lighter than the amount of water it
complex real-world problem based
displaces, because it is not a complete solid. The very bottom of on prioritized criteria and trade-offs
the ship is hollow and therefore adds support to the ship without that account for a range of constraints
adding any mass. When a ship is fully loaded, there is a maximum including cost, safety, reliability, and
aesthetics as well as possible cultural,
amount of weight it can carry before the weight of the ship
and environmental impacts.
increases past the amount of water it displaces.
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Activity Introduction PRACTICES:
Constructing Explanations and
Review with students what causes things to sink or float. Ships
Designing Solutions
are built out of heavy materials, why don’t they sink? Remind
students that whether something sinks or floats is determined by
density, which has to do with weight (mass) and size (volume)
together. If the density is greater than that of water, the object
will sink. If the density is less than (or the same as) that of water,
the object will float. Even if boats are made of things that sink
they can float IF THEY ARE SHAPED RIGHT. Students will prove
this by measuring the volume of water displaced by their model
ships.
Activity
1. To introduce students to the various forms and functions of
boats by showing them pictures of various types of boats
(see PPT slide). Ask:
-Why do boats have different shapes?
Build a Boat for Scientific Research Oregon State University | SMILE Program
-Which of these boats would be the most stable? Support
the most weight? Travel the furthest without going back
to land? Be the fastest? Slowest?
2. Tell students that there are many ways to build a boat depending
on what your goals are. Let them know that they are going
to work in teams to build a vessel that can conduct scientific
research. Introduce them to Oregon State University’s ships and
talk about the various types of research that is done on these
vessels. Show students the VIDEO of the design plan for OSU’s
soon to be built Regional Class Research Vessel.
3. Break students into groups of 3-4 and give them a bag of
random items (Legos, etc.) that represent equipment they must
incorporate into their design (specify indoor vs. outdoor). These
materials represent the equipment, labs, crew, and supplies.
Let them know that during testing their boat will need to
accommodate the weight of additional equipment being brought
aboard by researchers (100 pennies min).
4. Give students the Boat Design Challenge Student Handout to read,
discuss, and draft a design plan.
5. Once students have completed their design plan they can
“purchase” materials and start building. When they complete
their models they can test them in a provided tank (long
Tupperware container or something similar) and compare to the
builds of other students. Give students a chance to re-engineer
their designs before they make final presentations.
6. At some point during the testing process have students test the
Archimedes Principle by recording the water height in the test
container with and without the boat. Weigh the boat and convert
the change in water height to a volume of water displaced by
multiplying the width and length of the container at the water
line by the change in water height. Convert water volume to mass
and compare to the weight of the boat.
7. Have students present their final boat models to the rest of the
Build a Boat for Scientific Research Oregon State University | SMILE Program
group. Final presentations should address the given parameters:
-Is it within the specified size range: no more than 12 inches long
-Does it support the weight of the given research equipment (100 pennies)
-Does it have deck space for deployment and recovery of scientific equipment (Lego assortment)
-Does it have indoor space for labs, 6-8 crew, and supplies (Lego assortment)
Wrap Up
Once all groups have presented have students vote on which boat best met the design needs and why.
• What was difficult about designing and building your vessel?
• What trade-offs did your group make to meet the constraints that were given?
• Which of the given criteria did your group prioritize? (cost, space, stability, etc.?)
• What would you still change about your design to better meet the needs of an ocean-going vessel?
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTORS:
Chris Romsos
Don Hilliard
This project is supported by the Regional Class Research
Vessel Program in the College of Earth, Ocean, and
Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University.
Resources:
http://mocomi.com/buoyancy/
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/vessels/vessels.html
http://ceoas.oregonstate.edu/ships/
Build a Boat for Scientific Research Oregon State University | SMILE Program
Boat Design Challenge- Student Handout
The Problem
The International Commission for Ocean Exploration (ICOE) has a number of vessels that do world class
research and are utilized by many. More than one of their current research vessels is aging and needs to be
replaced. The ICOE is looking to contract with a boatyard to build a number of new and modern vessels that
will operate in coastal regions worldwide and on the open ocean.
The Challenge
The ICOE has contacted your boatyard to create a vessel design plan with a cost estimate for building your
vessel as well as a model of your vessel. You will then present your plan to the ICOE and tell them why they
should choose your boatyard to build the vessel.
Your vessel will be evaluated on the following criteria:
1. Cost: is cost efficient to build while meeting the needs of the vessel
2. Size: is no bigger than 12 inches’ long
3. Space: has deck and indoor space (wheelhouse) for equipment, labs, 6-8 crew, and supplies (provided
materials)
4. Stability: supports the weight of the various research equipment without sinking or becoming unstable
when tested (100 pennies min)
5. Aesthetics: overall look and appeal of vessel is pleasing
The Materials
To build your boat you have a budget of $100,000. You can choose from the following materials to build your
boat, but must stay within budget. Remember that a big part of your challenge is to create a model that will
support weight and be economical to build. Choose your materials wisely, they are expensive!
• Sheet metal (aluminum foil)- $30,000 per 1 foot sheet
• Welding materials (tape)- $20,000 per 1 foot strip
• Pre-fabricated wheelhouse (cups)- $20,000 each
• Softwood (corks)- $15,000 each
• Fiberglass (clay)- $15,000 per cube
• Reinforcements (straws or skewers)- $10,000 each
• Hardwood (popsicle sticks)- $10,000 each
• Cable (pipe cleaner)- $5,000 each
Testing Observations
Once your group has completed your model you will have a chance to test it and compare with other models.
You will then have a chance to redesign and rebuild your model. Observations are an important part of
understanding what worked and what didn’t work. Record your observations from your own design as well as
that of others in the space below:
Build a Boat for Scientific Research Oregon State University | SMILE Program
Research Boat Design Plan
Discuss with your group what boat design you think would most successfully meet the criteria given.
Draw a detailed boat design that includes location of: wheelhouse, deck, and equipment.
Design 1
What equipment will you need to build a model of your vessel? Fill out the purchase order below.
Purchase Order
Item Item Price Number Subtotal
Ordered Price
Sheet metal (aluminum foil) $30,000 per 1 foot sheet
Welding materials (tape) $20,000 per 1 foot strip
Pre-fabricated wheelhouse (cups) $20,000 each
Softwood (corks) $15,000 each
Fiberglass (clay) $15,000 per cube
Reinforcements (straws/skewers) $10,000 each
Hardwood (popsicle sticks) $10,000 each
Cable (pipe cleaner) $5000 each
Total Price
Build a Boat for Scientific Research Oregon State University | SMILE Program
Why do boats have different shapes?
