Hovercraft, also referred to as air-cushion vehicle or ACV, is a type of vehicle that works both on water and land, therefore, regarded as an amphibious vehicle. If you haven’t seen one or if you haven’t experienced riding one, it feels like gliding on a cushion of air. Because of its capabilities, it has been used on several areas now, and it imposes great help during calamities such as earthquakes, floods and so on.
A hovercraft works through two important functions – lifting and propelling. It is powered by a motor and a giant fan that pushes the air below, therefore, the vehicle “floats.” To ensure that the air will remain below, it is surrounded with a flexible rubber skirt. The skirt also has small holes below so that air can escape gradually, making it move on both land and water on same speed levels.
So for this experiment, we will make a simple hovercraft. You will later on understand how air lifts the vehicle so that it can glide smoothly.
Materials:
Paper Plate
Plastic Cup
Pencil
Motor
Propeller – If you cannot find something small that could fit exactly on the mouth of the plastic cup, you can create one by cutting a piece of plastic or cardstock. Glue it on the tip of your motor.
2 Connection Wires
2 Small Paper Clips
2 AA Batteries
2 Brass Fasteners
Electrical Tape
Masking or Scotch Tape
Procedure:
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Mark the middle of the bottom of the paper plate with an X. Cut one side of your plastic cup vertically leaving its two-thirds.
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Place the plastic cup on top of your paper plate just above the X. Mark the area using a pencil and cut the sides.
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Place the plastic cup on top of the hole. The cut portion of the paper plate must be placed on the inside of the plastic cup. Secure all sides and the insides of the paper cup with a masking tape or scotch tape.
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Get your glue and stick the motor with the propeller on the upper portion of your plastic cup. Preferrably just an inch away from the mouth, sticking the propeller out of the cup. Create 2 small holes on your plastic cup using a needle. Insert the connection wires inside and connect it on your motor. Tape your connecting wires on your paper plate so that it will not tangle on your propeller. Make a series using your batteries. Ensure that the negative charge is connected to the second battery’s positive charge. Secure them using an electrical tape. Attach one connecting wire on the negative charge exposed on your series and the other on the positive charge.
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Place your hovercraft on top of a smooth surface. Turn on the motor and see if it is working.
Notes:
- If one side of your hovercraft is heavier, you can place coins on the lighter side until it is already balanced. Secure your coins using a masking tape.
- If the motor is not working, it could be because the power supply isn’t enough. If so, add more batteries on your series.
- The propeller must be close to the mouth of the cup as much as possible so that the wind will be maintained on the sides of the cup.
- The propeller must be slightly bent so that the wind generated will go back into and over the cup.
