Cardboard Boat: Calculating Buoyant Forces

  • Context: High School 
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    Boat Buoyant Forces
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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating buoyant forces for a cardboard boat designed to carry two people in a pool for a competition. To determine if the boat will float, one must calculate the volume of water displaced by the submerged portion of the boat, which is achieved by multiplying the area of the boat's bottom by the density of water (1000 kg/m³). The total weight of the boat plus the two occupants must be less than the weight of the displaced water for the boat to float. A rectangular design is recommended for simplicity, ensuring the sides are higher than the calculated water level.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of buoyancy principles
  • Basic geometry for calculating volume and area
  • Knowledge of water density (1000 kg/m³)
  • Familiarity with waterproofing techniques for cardboard
NEXT STEPS
  • Research buoyancy calculations in fluid mechanics
  • Learn about waterproofing methods for cardboard structures
  • Explore design principles for stability in boat construction
  • Investigate safety measures for water activities, including lifejacket usage
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students in physics classes, educators teaching buoyancy concepts, and hobbyists interested in boat design and construction for competitions.

chrozer
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Ok so I'm in a Physics class and there is going to be a Cardboard Boat Race competition. So I have to build a boat out of cardboard for two people to fit in and it be able to float across a length's pool. I just want to know how you would find out if a boat that I build out of cardboard would float with 2 people in it. My teacher hasn't taught us anything about these kinds of physics concepts, but she said it has something to do about buoyant forces.

So my question is how do I determine if the boat will sink or not? Instructions on what I should do? Any ideas?
 
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A boat floats when the weight of water it displaces is greater than the weight of the boat.
So you simply work out the volume of the boat below the water line (simpler if it is a simple shape!) multiply by the density of water (fresh water weighs 1000kg for each m^3)
Then add up the total weigth of the boat + the two people.

The simple way is to make a rectangular boat and calculate the area of the bottom, if you know the weight of the boat+people you can work out how much volume of water you need to displace and so work out how far up the sides the water will come - then you make the sides higher than that!
 
Any design ideas or tips?
 
Make it waterproof, avoid icebergs, wear lifejackets
 

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