The Effects of Adding Divots to the Hull of a Boat on its Drag
School Name
Heathwood Hall
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Physics
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Oral Presentation Award
1st Place
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment is to identify the effects on the drag of a boat caused by adding small divots across the hull. This experiment was performed by having two boats made out of metal using the same proportions, one with small divots placed evenly across the hull and the other having a flat hull. These boats were then connected to a string that ran from the boat to a weighted pulley that would pull the connected boat through water. The amount of time it took for the weight to hit the ground was measured using a stopwatch. The speed of the weight falling would correlate to the speed of the boat moving through water. The faster the weight fell, the faster the boat traveled. The speed of the boat would be determined by how well it traveled through the water. This means that a boat with a lower drag would go faster than a boat with a higher drag. Although the ANOVA analysis of the data suggests variation between the two data sets, the difference was not enough to be considered statistically significant. Thus the results of the experiment support my null hypothesis, Adding Divots to the hull of a boat does not seem to decrease drag.
Recommended Citation
Heaton, John, "The Effects of Adding Divots to the Hull of a Boat on its Drag" (2017). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 180.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2017/all/180
Location
Wall 307
Start Date
3-25-2017 10:00 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effects of Adding Divots to the Hull of a Boat on its Drag
Wall 307
The purpose of this experiment is to identify the effects on the drag of a boat caused by adding small divots across the hull. This experiment was performed by having two boats made out of metal using the same proportions, one with small divots placed evenly across the hull and the other having a flat hull. These boats were then connected to a string that ran from the boat to a weighted pulley that would pull the connected boat through water. The amount of time it took for the weight to hit the ground was measured using a stopwatch. The speed of the weight falling would correlate to the speed of the boat moving through water. The faster the weight fell, the faster the boat traveled. The speed of the boat would be determined by how well it traveled through the water. This means that a boat with a lower drag would go faster than a boat with a higher drag. Although the ANOVA analysis of the data suggests variation between the two data sets, the difference was not enough to be considered statistically significant. Thus the results of the experiment support my null hypothesis, Adding Divots to the hull of a boat does not seem to decrease drag.
