The discussion revolves around the research and design of a model hovercraft for a geometry and trigonometry class. Participants explore the mathematical principles and practical considerations involved in hovercraft design, highlighting the complexity of the subject.
The discussion is active, with participants providing insights and personal anecdotes. Some guidance on mathematical concepts has been offered, particularly regarding the Bernoulli equation and its relevance to hovercraft design. Multiple interpretations of the project requirements and mathematical approaches are being explored.
Participants mention the difficulty of the math involved and the potential for misunderstanding the project scope, indicating a need for clarity on what constitutes a "model" hovercraft. There is also a recognition of the varying levels of complexity in hovercraft design.
I did one with some friends and the help of the physics teacher in grade 10. First of all, we made it circular, for stability. I think it was about 4 ft in diameter but it might have been a bit less. We made the skirt out of some strong material I forget what it was called though, lol, a lot of help I am. For the edges of the skirt we wrapped it onto the topside and then stapled it. However there is a trick, because with just staples it will tear through the skirt. So first, duct-tape the skirt to the hovercraft, and (well, we actually duct-taped the entire skirt to make it stronger) then staple it. The duct-tape will prevent the staples from tearing through. Make sure there are holes in the skirt placed specifically in the bottom. They allow for air to escap, but not too big of holes, remember, you can always make them bigger, making them smaller isn't as easy. Duct-tape the edges to these holes as well so they don't tear. We used 2 leaf-blower's for our air source and they were sufficient power to even hover my friend who is...well, he weighs more than the avg person his age.They're definitely more difficult to control in the sense that you have to anticipate what you want to do long before it has to be done. Reactions are much slower than a ground vehicle or airplane, because there's no interaction with the ground or air for manoeuvrability. It's like sliding on ice. The skill required is no greater or less than for most vehicles, but experience is very important since the skills are different.bomba923 said: