PROJECT ASSIGNMENT DATE: 3-29-11 MINI-BOAT MODEL DUE: 4-5-11 BOATS DUE: 4-28-11 RACE DATE: 4-29-11

The First Ever GPN Physics

Cardboard Boat Regatta

Background

The first-ever Cardboard Boat Regatta took place in 1974 at Southern Illinois University. Dr.

Richard Archer, a professor of Art and Design, came up with the idea of designing and racing a

cardboard boat as a final exam for his freshman design classes. Since this time, the idea has

continued to grow and Cardboard Boat Regattas have become annual events at many schools,

lakes and campgrounds across the country. Many of these regattas are affiliated with the Great

Cardboard Boat Regatta, the official, trademarked cardboard boat race circuit stemming from

this original event. Though the event was started in the realm of Art & Design, cardboard boats

illustrate numerous principles of physics. This makes physics a perfect place to do a project like

this.

With the Great Cardboard Boat Regatta as our inspiration, we are pleased to announce that a

Physics Cardboard Board Regatta will be held at Grosse Pointe North High School on Friday

April 29, 2011! Our Cardboard Boat Race is designed to be a fun, culminating activity for you

and your friends to help celebrate our year of hard work in physics. You will be part of a team

comprised of four to six students, although only two students per team will actually ride in the

boat. Friends, parents, and guests are invited to watch as we prove that physics really floats our

boat!

Goal

To use physics principles to design and build a cardboard boat that can be paddled by two

students across the pool and back.

Permitted Materials Corrugated cardboard

Utility knife

Straight edge

Tape (of any kind)

Wood glue

Acrylic latex caulk

Creasing tool

Clamps

Measuring tape

PROJECT ASSIGNMENT DATE: 3-29-11 MINI-BOAT MODEL DUE: 4-5-11 BOATS DUE: 4-28-11 RACE DATE: 4-29-11

Boat Construction Rules 1. Boats must be made entirely out of corrugated cardboard and should fit two rowers.

2. Boats may be no longer than 8 feet and no wider than 4 feet.

3. Joints and seams may be taped, caulked, and/or glued.

4. When taping seams, only 1.5 inches of tape can overlap the seam.

5. Materials other than those listed above are forbidden.

6. Boats must be free of sharp edges and anything else that may pose danger to others.

7. The name of each boat should appear above the water line in at least 4 inch letters.

8. Boats can be decorated with permanent markers.

9. All boat names, designs, themes, etc. should be school appropriate.

10. Both people must be visible in the boat.

11. The passengers of your boat may not be enclosed above their shoulders by the boat (e.g. no submarines.)

12. You must be able to get your boat to the school!

13. Your boat must fit through the doorway!!

Design Tips from the Pros Apply Archimedes’ Principle of Buoyancy as well as Newton’s Third Law

Come up with a design and build a small prototype. (If you can’t build a small one; you won’t be able

to build a big one!)

A flat bottom is recommended. A V-shaped bottom is more likely to tip over.

The lowest center of gravity is the most stable. You are more likely to tip when kneeling or standing

(think of a hammer: which way is it most balanced on a table, head up or head down?)

Longer boats go faster but they are harder to turn.

Shorter boats are difficult to steer.

For height, allow about 18 inches to sit and paddle effectively.

For width, plan about 18 inches for a kayak design, 24 inches for a canoe design, and 30 inches for a

rowboat design.

Design and build strength into the seams and corners.

Apply Liquid Nail or caulk to all seams.

Add multiple layers to the floor of your boat.

Don’t step on the cardboard to fold it!

Best advice ~ Fold a lot, cut sparingly: you want as few holes as possible!!

Constructing Your Team’s Boat Make a small prototype model of your design out of cardstock paper (due 4/5/11)

Use your prototype as a scale model for each of your boat’s pieces.

Cut a pattern for each piece from newspaper (like a stencil, so you don’t make mistakes on the

cardboard.)

Affix each pattern piece to your cardboard before cutting, and then cut around the newspaper pattern for

each piece. Pay attention to the grain (direction of corrugation) of the cardboard.

Build the bottom of the boat first ~ two to three layers of cardboard glued together and weighed down

until dry.

Cut the sidepieces. Cut against the grain of the cardboard to increase durability. Use the dull side of your

knife when scoring to make creases/folds.

Affix the sides to the bottom with tape and/or glue. Clamp pieces together until adhesive is dry.

Caulk all seams. (Avoid oil-based caulk and glue because cardboard soaks up oil and it weakens the

cardboard.)

Decorate your boat!!! Choose a theme, color scheme, or motif. Avoid decorations that will fall off in the

water.

PROJECT ASSIGNMENT DATE: 3-29-11 MINI-BOAT MODEL DUE: 4-5-11 BOATS DUE: 4-28-11 RACE DATE: 4-29-11

Grading

You will be receiving a group grade for this project and are expected to be a contributing member of your team

in some way that can be documented or demonstrated. Students who do not contribute significantly will be

graded accordingly.

Points for boats will be awarded as follows:

50 points ~ Any boat that makes it to school on time

80 points ~ Any boat that makes it off the starting line with its two rowers

85 points ~ Any boat that successfully navigates one-quarter of the course

90 points ~ Any boat that successfully navigates one-half of the course

95 points ~ Any boat that successfully navigates three-quarters of the course

100 points ~ Any boat that successfully navigates the entire course

Judges Awards

Five extra credit points will be awarded to all team members who receive a Judges Award for any category:

Vogue Award ~ best looking boat

Norsemen Pride Award ~ most creative design

Best Dressed Team Award ~ most creative dress, theme or costumes

Team Spirit Award ~ most spirited team

Titanic Award ~ most spectacular sinking!

Fastest Finish Awards ~ 1st, 2

nd, and 3

rd place awards for fastest times in any heat

Volunteers

A number of volunteers are needed to help run the actual competition ~ timers, line-up crew, recorders,

boarding help, photographers, journalists, slide show, etc. If you are interested in helping, please let me know.

PROJECT ASSIGNMENT DATE: 3-29-11 MINI-BOAT MODEL DUE: 4-5-11 BOATS DUE: 4-28-11 RACE DATE: 4-29-11

Helpful Websites

The Great Cardboard Boat Regatta official website

http://www.gcbr.com/port.html

Photos: If these little kids can do it, you can too!!

http://www.wyclub.com/cardboard_boat_regatta_photos.htm

Photos: High School Students in Pool

http://www.neisd.net/reagan/departments/science/BoatRace/CardboardBoat.html

Photos: Lots of photos from past GCBR races.

http://www.gcbr.com/album.html

Photos: More sample boats. Look at photo 130 for a spectacular sinking!!

http://www.rotaryriverrally.com/photos.html

Photos: Another cardboard boat race event . . .

http://209.68.15.164/glenellyn/card.html

Photo: A really cool cardboard boat!

http://www.arlingtondental.com/boat.html

Photos: More simple, doable boats

http://www.gslyc.org/sailfest_2002_cardboard_boat_reg.html

Construction Help: How to Build a Boat with pictures

http://www.rotaryriverrally.com/documents/buildAboat.doc

Construction Tips from folks at the Great Cardboard Boat Regatta

http://www.gcbr.com/tips.html

Construction Help: The Great Cardboard Boat Regatta Message Board

http://gcbr.com/wwwboard//index.html

PROJECT ASSIGNMENT DATE: 3-29-11 MINI-BOAT MODEL DUE: 4-5-11 BOATS DUE: 4-28-11 RACE DATE: 4-29-11

The First Annual Physics

Cardboard Boat Regatta

Date/Time: Friday, April 29th

8:00AM

Location: Grosse Pointe North High School Pool and Gym

Participating Classes: Mr. Abud’s and Mr. Pata’s

Physics

Honors Physics

AP Physics

Event Rules

1. All boats must be in the designated drop-off area by 7:00 am the day of the event for teacher inspection

and judging. Late arrivals will not be allowed to compete in the regatta.

2. Boats will be lined up according to heat number. The Captain of each team is responsible for ensuring

that the boat and all team members are where they are supposed to be. Heat numbers will be assigned

ahead of the event.

3. Boat occupants must wear an approved life preserver/vest.

4. No arms or legs may be in the water to assist with stability or propulsion.

5. Boat occupants should be able swimmers (non-swimmers cannot captain the boats.)

6. Certified lifeguards will be present.

7. Only team members of participating groups will be allowed on deck during a given heat.

8. If your boat capsizes or sinks, you must first remove all of your boat debris from the pool, and you must

exit the pool as soon as possible (other boats will still be racing!)

9. There is NO swimming or diving in the pool during this event. Violators will receive a zero!!

10. To qualify as a finisher, both teammates must be in the boat at the end of the race.

11. Upon finishing your heat, you must immediately dispose of your boat properly. You may then enter the

pool area and watch the remaining heats.

12. Depending on the number of boats participating, the regatta will either be based on overall finish time or

a single-elimination bracket.

All boats must be in the designated boat drop-off area by 7:00am.

Dress appropriately 1) for school; and 2) for the pool!

Bring a towel!!

Be courteous of locker room space!