Project

In
Advanced
Physics
Submitted by:
Walter Tabuso
IV-Marconi
Submitted to:
Mrs. Eloisa Auino
!"#MPA"T $IS" %#VE&"&A'T(
What is a hovercra)t*
A hovercraft is an amphibious vehicle that is supported by a cushion of slightly
pressurized air. Although often seen as a mysterious, even bizarre mode of transportation,
it is conceptually quite simple. To understand how hovercraft work, it is necessary to
realize that the dynamics are more closely related to aircraft than to boats or automobiles.
As a member of the family of air cushion vehicles (ACs! or ground effect machines,
which includes wing"in"ground"effect or ram wings, surface effect ships, sidewall
hovercraft, and surface skimmers, hovercraft, are the amphibious member of the air
cushion vehicle family. They are the most novel among vehicles that are supported by
pressurized air. #efer to the illustration below as you read about how hovercraft actually
function.
$overcraft float on a cushion of air that has been forced under the craft by a fan.
This causes the craft to rise or lift. The amount of lift can range from %& to '()& ('*+mm
to +,,-.mm! depending on the size of the craft. The amount of total weight that a
hovercraft can raise is equal to cushion pressure multiplied by the area of the hovercraft.
To make the craft function more efficiently, it is essential to limit the cushion air from
escaping, so the air is contained by the use of what is called a skirt. /ashioned from
fabric, which allows a deep cushion or clearance of obstacles, hovercraft skirts vary in
style ranging from bags to cells (0upes! to separate fingered sections called segments.
1ost 2eoteric hovercraft utilize the segmented skirt system because each segment can
deflect individually when passing over bumps so that very little lift air is lost on uneven
terrain.
3nce &lifted& or &on cushion&, thrust must be created to move the hovercraft
forward. 4ith many craft, this is generated by a separate engine from the one used to
create the lift, but with some, the same engine is used for both. As the diagram above
indicates, the fan"generated air stream is split so that part of the air is directed under the
hull for lift, while most of it is used for thrust.
Materials:
5alloon
Cartridge of a 5allpen
Cover of the 5allpoint of a 5allpen
Compact 6isc
#ubber 5ands
7lue 8tick
1atch
Candle
9in
8tyrofoam:#ubber 6isc:7atorade Cap
Procedure:
'. 9repare all the materials needed in
making the toy.
+. Cut a styrofoam in a circled shape
or we can 0ust use the cap of the
7atorade bottle or a rubber disc.
.. Create a hole in the center so that
there would be a path for the air
that will come out from the
balloon.
*. ;nsert the cover of the ballpoint
of the pen on the middle of the
styrofoam.

-. 5y using the pin that was heated
with the help of the candle, create a
hole in the cover of the ballpoint of
the pen.

%. 5y using a gluestick, combine the
Compact 6isc and the styrofoam with
the ballpoint cover.
,. <sing rubber bands, connect the
cartridge and the balloon and be sure that
there will be no leak of air.
). Combine the cover of the ballpoint
and the cartridge by simply putting it
down.
=. 5ut, inflate the balloon first and you>re ready to go. 5e sure to only use this on smooth
surface.
"once+ts o) Physics involved:
1. Air Pressure-
A simple hovercraft is powered by a leaf blower. <sing the leaf blower, it would
inflate the shower curtain (on the other side! and cause the molecules to e?pand. 5ut, we
don@t want there to be a lot of air pressure as the shower curtain can rip open. To solve
this problem, we will have to cut some small holes in the shower curtain so that the
e?cess air would be able to move out of the hovercraft. The holes shouldn@t be too big and
let all the air escape. The air pressure needs to rise until there is a point where gravity has
less force than the air pressure molecules which would cause the hovercraft to inflate and
start gliding.
2. Friction-
/riction is defined as &surface resistance
to relative motion, as of a body sliding or rolling.& To make hovercraft@s ride as smooth
and as effective as possible, the leaf blower should inflate the shower curtain and blow a
layer of air between the ground and craft and can be pushed. 5ut there should be little
friction for the ride to be as safe, lessen potential damage, and make the iniatial force as
effecient as possible. This hovercraft should be able to move on surfaces on a consistent
manner due to the lack of friction. 4e can compare the hovercraft to an ice skating rink.
The ice causes a person to glide because of the lack of friction and the hovercraft
should do the same.
3. Momentum-
1omentum can be described as &mass in motion&. 4hen this hovercraft is at
motion, it has a great momentum as its mass and velocity are reasonably high. 5ut when
an e?ternal force (also an &unbalanced& force according to 2ewton! is applied, the
momentum shifts. A hovercraft should have less friction, so the momentum would be
very constant. ;n regular ob0ects such as a basketball, when this ball is rolled, friction will
be acted upon it causing it to slow down" The momentum changes. 5ut with a hovercraft,
friction is very little, so the momentum should stay constant for a good period of time.
4. Newtons First Law of Motion
<sing 2ewton@s /irst Aaw, an ob0ect in motion will stay at motion unless acted
upon by an unbalanced force. The hovercraft is supposed to glide on any surface, and in
our case, friction is the unbalanced force. 4hen friction is taken out of the equation, the
hovercraft is going to glide on the surface until acted upon by an opposite force (such as
air resistance!. The ride will be as smooth as possible because there will be little friction
between the shower curtain and the ground. According to 2ewton@s first law, when
/riction (unbalanced force! is removed, the ob0ect will stay at motion until acted upon by
an unbalanced force.
*. Newtons Third Law of Motion
As air blows out of the back of the hovercraft, the vehicle moves forward.
%o, does it ,or-*
1y Compact 6isc $overcraft works by inflating with the help blowing the
cartridge where the balloon is connected. After inflating the balloon, cover the hole where
you had blown the cartridge then immediately connect it with the ballpoint cover. 4e will
notice that the air from the balloon will slowly go out towards the hole of the ballpoint
cover. 4e can control if we like to let the hovercraft glide or move faster by widening the
hole from the ballpoint pen. 4e can let the hovercraft to any direction we want by
pushing it.
Possible lessons in Physics ,here you can use the toy:
Aerodynamics
/riction
1omentum
2ewton>s /irst Aaw of 1otion
Air 9ressure
2ewton>s Third Aaw of 1otion