Skimmer Regatta

Skimmer Regatta

Skills

Use the scientific method to test and adapt various skimmer designs.
To investigate how the size, shape, and position of a sail effects an air powered vehicle.

Materials

(per group)
toothpicks
clay or playdough
old manila folders or poster board
plain paper
scissors
turkey baster (optional)
balloon (optional)

Doing the Activity

Have each student cut out their skimmers using the pattern supplied.

Each student should design a sail to try with their skimmer.

Cut out the sail and attach it to the skimmer using a small lump of clay and a toothpick.

Blow on the skimmer/sail and make modifications as desired to improve performance.

To start the race, have the participants line their skimmers up along the edge of a table ready to blow them to the other side.

Optional, use the turkey baster with the bulb removed and a balloon placed over the end to provide the air power.

The winner is the first skimmer to reach the other side of the table without tipping over.

After the first race, modify the skimmer and try again!

Talking it over

Why isn't the biggest sail necessarily the best? What two factors work against each other when it comes to the size of the sail?

How does this activity relate to things that you do everyday?

What's Happening

The size of the sail effects the skimmer in basically three ways. First the larger the sail, the more surface area in which the wind will be distributed over and that will tend to make the skimmer go faster, however, it also increases the drag or resistance to movement and that will tend to make the skimmer go slower. A balance must be found between these two conflicting results. The third effect that the sail has on the skimmer is overall stability. The sail tends to move the center of gravit y of the sail/skimmer system and that makes the skimmer easier to tip over. You can add weight to the base, but this tends to make the skimmer move slower. Once again a compromise must be found between stability and speed.

More Challenges

Could you design a skimmer that uses another source of locomotion rather than a sail?

Try to build and test your design.

Activity Source

A World in Motion produced by SAE: The Engineering Society for Advanced Mobility Land Sea Air and Space International. 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096. 1-800-457-2946

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Extension

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	Skimmer Regatta
	Skills Use the scientific method to test and adapt various skimmer designs. To investigate how the size, shape, and position of a sail effects an air powered vehicle.
	Materials (per group) toothpicks clay or playdough old manila folders or poster board plain paper scissors turkey baster (optional) balloon (optional)
	Doing the Activity Have each student cut out their skimmers using the pattern supplied. Each student should design a sail to try with their skimmer. Cut out the sail and attach it to the skimmer using a small lump of clay and a toothpick.
	Blow on the skimmer/sail and make modifications as desired to improve performance. To start the race, have the participants line their skimmers up along the edge of a table ready to blow them to the other side. Optional, use the turkey baster with the bulb removed and a balloon placed over the end to provide the air power.
	The winner is the first skimmer to reach the other side of the table without tipping over. After the first race, modify the skimmer and try again!
	Talking it over Why isn't the biggest sail necessarily the best? What two factors work against each other when it comes to the size of the sail? How does this activity relate to things that you do everyday?
	What's Happening The size of the sail effects the skimmer in basically three ways. First the larger the sail, the more surface area in which the wind will be distributed over and that will tend to make the skimmer go faster, however, it also increases the drag or resistance to movement and that will tend to make the skimmer go slower. A balance must be found between these two conflicting results. The third effect that the sail has on the skimmer is overall stability. The sail tends to move the center of gravit y of the sail/skimmer system and that makes the skimmer easier to tip over. You can add weight to the base, but this tends to make the skimmer move slower. Once again a compromise must be found between stability and speed.
	More Challenges Could you design a skimmer that uses another source of locomotion rather than a sail? Try to build and test your design.
	Activity Source A World in Motion produced by SAE: The Engineering Society for Advanced Mobility Land Sea Air and Space International. 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096. 1-800-457-2946