First we harnessed the force of air resistance to counteract the force of gravity. We created parachutes to maximize air resistance; our best example taking an impressive 7.7 seconds to fall 8 meters.
We then thought about how we would improve our designs. Next we looked at how streamlined shapes decrease air and water resistance.
Applying our learnt knowledge, we designed boats with streamlined shapes to minimize water resistance. We then attached sails to our boats and used a battery powered fan to sail them across 1.5 meters of water. The quickest boat covered the distance in a mere 0.93 seconds!
By Anthony Gillum-Webb
Year 5 Kookaburras Teacher