Science In Our World

Science Wizz Kids Home Page

Welcome to "Wizz Kids". A site to support the profile Mathematics & Science for our feeder schools Opportunities to engage in a number of Science based initiatives that might be available.

Hovercraft

Aim: This is an activity to construct a hovercraft.

Equipment: The equipment includes... 

  • a piece of cardboard (20cm by 20cm);
  • a round balloon;
  • a cork (with a hole made down through the centre);
  • Tarzan Grip glue.


Method: Bore a hole through the centre of the cork. Glue the cork (wide end down) onto the cardboard which also has a hole in it. Blow up a balloon, and while holding the air in, invert it and place it over the cork when the glue has dried. Place the hovercraft on a table top and release the balloon.

Background knowledge: The air released out of the balloon spreads out across the under side base of the cardboard allowing the hovercraft to float on a cushion of air. This reduces friction considerably. You should be able to push it along and it go by itself. If your place a peg on the end to restrict most of the air released it should last longer.