Hovercraft B/C

samuel.barlow003
Member
Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2017 7:46 am
Division: C
State: UT
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Hovercraft B/C

Post by samuel.barlow003 »

IvanGe wrote:with no skirt, chances that you can carry 16 rolls of pennies are close to 0. Unless you have some sort of a jet engine motor, it's not gonna be able to levitate 2 kg
I got put in to the event a month ago so I kind of just barely started and I have a squirrel cage motor. From past regionals I saw that most of the hovercrafts there didn't even work so my main focus was to just get a hovercraft working and so far I can get it to go forward pretty well with no penny rolls. I have also got it to go pretty well with 1-2 penny rolls.
MattChina
Member
Member
Posts: 225
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2017 8:06 am
Division: B
State: NY
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Hovercraft B/C

Post by MattChina »

IvanGe wrote:with no skirt, chances that you can carry 16 rolls of pennies are close to 0. Unless you have some sort of a jet engine motor, it's not gonna be able to levitate 2 kg
Seconded. With no skirt, it is almost impossible to carry 16 rolls of pennies. Without a skirt, my hover could only carry about 3 penny rolls.
2019 events: Water Quality, Battery Buggy, Elastic Launch Glider, Density Lab, Circuit Lab, Thermodynamics
R.C Murphy Co-Captain
Dank Memes Area Homeschool Team member
User avatar
TheChiScientist
Member
Member
Posts: 732
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2018 11:25 am
Division: Grad
State: IL
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 44 times

Re: Hovercraft B/C

Post by TheChiScientist »

It is possible to make a hovercraft skirtless but it requires top-tier build skills and a lot of power but it is possible to make one that carries 16 rolls. In the long run, you are better off with a skirt. :D
A Science Olympian from 2015 - 2019 CLCSO Alumni
Medal Count:30
IL PPP/Mission Assistant State Supervisor.
CLC Div. B Tournament Director.
President of The Builder Cult.
"A true Science Olympian embraces a life without Science Olympiad by becoming a part of Science Olympiad itself"- Me
samuel.barlow003
Member
Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2017 7:46 am
Division: C
State: UT
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Hovercraft B/C

Post by samuel.barlow003 »

When I tried making a skirt it just didn't work so if you guys could offer some ideas, that would be greatly appreciated.
User avatar
Adi1008
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 525
Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2013 1:56 pm
Division: Grad
State: CA
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Has thanked: 151 times
Been thanked: 107 times

Re: Hovercraft B/C

Post by Adi1008 »

samuel.barlow003 wrote:When I tried making a skirt it just didn't work so if you guys could offer some ideas, that would be greatly appreciated.
People generally make skirts by using fabric or plastic (think garbage bags) to make "bags" on the bottom of their devices, usually by sewing or folding. Then, they poke holes (or something similar, like cutting out parts) in the bottom so air can escape.

It can be a tough and imprecise process, so often, there's a lot of trial and error until you find something that works
Stanford University
University of Texas at Austin '22
Seven Lakes High School '18
Beckendorff Junior High '14
User avatar
TheChiScientist
Member
Member
Posts: 732
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2018 11:25 am
Division: Grad
State: IL
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 44 times

Re: Hovercraft B/C

Post by TheChiScientist »

Yes, it is frustrating at times. Hint:Think pressure ;)
A Science Olympian from 2015 - 2019 CLCSO Alumni
Medal Count:30
IL PPP/Mission Assistant State Supervisor.
CLC Div. B Tournament Director.
President of The Builder Cult.
"A true Science Olympian embraces a life without Science Olympiad by becoming a part of Science Olympiad itself"- Me
samuel.barlow003
Member
Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2017 7:46 am
Division: C
State: UT
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Hovercraft B/C

Post by samuel.barlow003 »

Would having one hole like 1-3 inches in diameter in the middle be good.
User avatar
Adi1008
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 525
Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2013 1:56 pm
Division: Grad
State: CA
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Has thanked: 151 times
Been thanked: 107 times

Re: Hovercraft B/C

Post by Adi1008 »

samuel.barlow003 wrote:Would having one hole like 1-3 inches in diameter in the middle be good.
You might need more holes than that based on my experience. You could have one much larger hole in the middle (maybe 6-9 inches in diameter) or have ~16 or so of the small holes spaced evenly on the bottom of the skirt
Stanford University
University of Texas at Austin '22
Seven Lakes High School '18
Beckendorff Junior High '14
User avatar
QuantumEcho
Member
Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 4:57 pm
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Hovercraft B/C

Post by QuantumEcho »

Adi1008 wrote:
samuel.barlow003 wrote:Would having one hole like 1-3 inches in diameter in the middle be good.
You might need more holes than that based on my experience. You could have one much larger hole in the middle (maybe 6-9 inches in diameter) or have ~16 or so of the small holes spaced evenly on the bottom of the skirt
Yeah, having 1 large hole may cause unbalance/collapse in your skirt if you’re lifting ~16 penny rolls. I personally recommend having numerous holes, but it differs per Hovercraft. It need not be a specific number, but a good amount to lower the friction. Trial and error is the best way to solve this problem.
Seven Lakes Junior High ‘17, Obra D. Tompkins High School ‘21
User avatar
IvanGe
Member
Member
Posts: 199
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 1:56 pm
Division: C
State: NY
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 0

Re: Hovercraft B/C

Post by IvanGe »

i had the best luck with a large rectangle hole. this way it traps air along the outside edge of the hovercraft.
gelinas 2016-2019, wmhs'22

nats '19:
5th - potions
5th - fossils
9th - buggy

Return to “2018 Lab Events”