You've probably often seen planes flying and boats in the water, but have you really thought about what's involved in their operation? There is a lot of interesting science that goes into how they work. Here are a few of the topics covered in the Project Ideas below to help you investigate the science of air- and watercraft:
Unique flying devices
Shapes of objects and their effect on speed in air and water
How an airplane stays up in the sky
Different factors that affect rocket or boat performance
How does a parachute work? Do bigger parachutes work better than smaller parachutes? Find out in this experiment if the size of the parachute matters.
Read more...
What makes some objects more streamlined than others? Find out which ordinary objects around your house are made to move smoothly through the water in this easy science fair project. Which objects will produce the most drag when pulled through the water?
Read more...
What keeps a submarine from spinning out of control? In this science project, you can investigate how
submarines use stabilizing fins to move forward. You might even figure out the secrets to maneuvering a submarine!
Read more...
When a ship rocks back and forth, it can make people seasick. Even worse, it can make it dangerous for jets to land on aircraft carriers. For these reasons and many others, it's important for engineers to design bilge keels (or fins) to keep boats from rolling back and forth. Become an engineer for a day and discover the best way to keep from rocking the boat in this engineering science fair project!
Read more...
Where do you get your best ideas? At school with your friends? When you're out for a bike ride? Over 2,200 years ago, a scientist named Archimedes got one of his best ideas when he sat down in his bath. Eureka! He went running through the streets without even bothering with his clothes. What was he so excited about? He had discovered that when objects, like his body, are placed in water, water is pushed out of the way. Have you noticed that, too? The weight of the water that is pushed out of the way is equal to the lifting force on that object. He used this idea, called Archimedes' principle, to help the local king figure out if his crown was made of pure gold or not, and engineers use his principle today to help build ships of steel that can float. In this hydrodynamics science project, you'll make little spherical "boats" out of aluminum foil and find out at what point they can't push away enough water, causing them to sink. You'll determine the diameter at which the lifting force is just not strong enough to keep them afloat.
Read more...
Do you dream about making deep, undersea voyages? Let this project take you 20,000 leagues under the sea! Investigate how submarines dive and surface by changing their buoyancy in this fun project.
Read more...
Have you ever wondered how a ship made of steel can float? In this project you'll investigate how much weight boat hulls of various shapes and sizes can support without sinking.
Read more...
You can make a very simple hovercraft with a stiff, disposable plate—a pie plate should work well—and a balloon. Glue a square of cardboard in the center of the bottom of the plate. Make a...
Read more...
Alternative energy sources are a big deal these days. One such source is the wind. Find out how a wind turbine can use the power of the wind to generate energy in this science fair engineering project. You'll design various blades to find out which produces the most energy, and put the wind to work for you!
Read more...
Flying kites is an excellent way to learn about aerodynamic forces. In this science fair project, you will build and test a variety of kite designs to see which flies best in low wind speeds. You will use an inexpensive anemometer to accurately measure the wind speed. Since you will be choosing which kites to build and test, the experimental procedure provides a general outline for the experiments, but there is a lot of opportunity for you to be creative with your kite designs. This is a DIY (do-it-yourself) kind of science fair project!
Read more...
It's free! As a member you will be the first to receive our new and innovative project ideas, news
about upcoming science competitions, science fair tips, and information on other science related initiatives.
