|
Friday, 07 March 2008 |
|
Staff photo/Kay Louth
One of ten two-person teams from St. Marys High School Physics class test the seaworthiness of their cardboard and duct tape boat at the south branch of Auglaize/Mercer Counties YMCA Thursday.
BY KAY LOUTH
Staff Writer
NEW BREMEN — St. Marys High School physics students got a unique opportunity to test Archimedes’ Principle Thursday by testing their homemade cardboard and duct tape two-man boats in the swimming pool at the south branch of Auglaize and Mercer Counties YMCA in New Bremen.
Ten two-person teams constructed boats from large cardboard boxes and secured the seams with duct tape.
“It’s the only choice,” senior competitors Kyle Henning, Kyle Frederick and Jordan Minnich said of the construction materials.
Students learned about the physics behind buoyancy and used their knowledge to build boats. Archimedes’ Principle — named for the Greek mathematician who died in 212 BC — states a body immersed in fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid.
“They have to use Archimedes’ Principle to construct a boat that will make it across the pool and back,” Physics teacher Laura Mack said. “ Basically, the concept is as long as they (boat and crew) weigh less than the amount of water they displace they will float.”
The boats ranged from simple boxes to the more complex with pointed bows and makeshift modified outriggers and the boats ranged from very plain to decorated. Some teams also donned costumes for the event as well.
The Spa Bums featured modified outriggers. Seniors Holly Penrod and Kara McBride decorated their boat with spa essentials like nail polish and bars of soap.
“We’re at least going to get halfway,” the duo said.
Their boat turned out to be a sturdy vessel as it made its way across the pool and back to the starting line.
However for the Leprechaun, the luck of the Irish ran out just before the boat made it to the starting line. It collapsed, dumping the students in the water, thoroughly drenching its pilots’ Irish hats and jerseys.
An old-time carnival ride style boat manned, by seniors Courtney Roby and Lyndsay Nelson, successfully made it across the pool. Most of the boats successfully made the first half of the trip and a couple didn’t make it out of port before sinking.
Students worked on the project for approximately three weeks before loading the boats into pickup trucks for the trip to New Bremen.
While the event was fun for the students, Mack said the goal was for the students to successfully do the calculations and navigate the pool. Mack said the class typically takes on a special project once every quarter. This is the second year for the boat races.
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 11 March 2008 )
|
