Race A Speedboat

Race a Speedboat

Can you make a paper boat race across the water just by gently touching the surface of the water?

Hypothesis (What I think will happen)

I think the boat will race forward a little (depending on how the boat is made).

Materials

Coloured card, washing up liquid, pencil or sharpie, scissors, large container of water.

Method (What we did)

We made a boat, put dishwash on our finger,put our boat in the water, tap the water behind the boat and it floated across the water.

YAY I'm nearly the end (the middle one)

Oh no Dylan's boat is falling apart (the red one)

Observation (What happened)

It floated  across the water

Conclusion (Why I think it happened)

Because the boat was on strong flat water, with dishwater liquid made the boat go faster but it raced forward because when you tap the water behind the boat it breaks the surface so the stronger side (the front) pulls it to more stronger areas, if you chased the boat with your finger it would run away and go fast because you're breaking the water behind it which makes stronger water pull it.  

Short Experiment to Follow Up

Make Metal Float

Gently place a paperclip on the water’s surface.

Hypothesis (What I think will happen)

It will float because it’s not that heavy.

Observation (What happened)

It floated, it made a dent in the water and made it’s way across the water.

Conclusion (Why I think it happened)

Because it was light, it didn’t sink, it was also on plane flat water, if the water broke (started splashing and making small waves) than it would sink.