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:
The Swimming Secrets of Duck Feet
Do you wish that you had duck feet? Aside from being a fun Dr. Seuss story, there is a lot you can learn about hydrodynamics by looking at the feet of birds. How are the feet of birds that swim unique? Find out in this experiment.
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How Does a Hovercraft Work?
Have you ever ridden on a hovercraft? It is like gliding on a cushion of air! Make your own mini hovercraft in this experiment to test how hovercrafts work.
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Let's Go Fly a Kite!
Kites have been a source of entertainment for centuries of kids from cultures around the world. In this experiment you will have a chance to build your very own kite, a simple sled kite. Then you will use it to investigate how kites fly. Will you find out the best way to fly your kite?
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Whirl-y-bird vs. Whale-y-bird
What do whale fins, shark skin, mackerel tails, and golf balls all have in common? Explore the science of hydrodynamics and biomimicry with this fun experiment.
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Milk Does Your Body and a Boat Good—Design Your Own Milk Carton Boat
Who'd have thought that drinking milk can lead to a pretty cool boat? Boat design is an important and active area of engineering. In this science fair project, which was inspired by a PBS DragonflyTV episode, you will design and build different kinds of model boats out of milk cartons. Examples of the types of designs you might test include a raft, a catamaran, and a V-shaped hull. Once the model boats are built, you will test key features, such as stability, maneuverability, and their ability to glide.
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Up, Up, and Away in Your Own Hot-air Balloon!
Have you ever looked up into the sky and seen not a bird, not a plane, but a hot-air balloon? They are definitely amazing and fun to watch! Do you think they are all the same size? Does size affect how long the hot-air balloon can fly? In this science fair project, you will launch hot-air balloons, powered by a toaster, and see how the size of the balloon affects its flight.
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Parachutes: Does Size Matter?
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.
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What A Drag!
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?
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Do Submarines Need Fins?
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!
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Rocking the Boat
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!
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Index of Aerodynamics & Hydrodynamics Project Ideas |
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