How does a hovercraft work

However, some variation of just a few seconds among the three trials with each size may have been apparent because the balloon was probably not the exact same size each time you inflated it. Likewise, because the small balloon held the least amount of air and the medium balloon held an intermediate amount, the small balloon should have allowed the hovercraft to fly for the least amount of time and the medium balloon should have allowed it to hover for an intermediate duration.

More to explore How does a hovercraft work? This activity brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Build a Cooler. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits. See Subscription Options Already a subscriber? One of the key design points for a successful hovercraft is keeping the weight to a minimum.

Our designs excel at maximizing the useful load and space inside the hovercraft. The goal is to build a vessel that can carry passengers or cargo. Systems engineering looks at each component or design element for its impact on the overall design.

By this method we can produce a better vessel. Lift and propulsion efficiency also plays an important role, since the engine can be smaller. Join the Discussion. I love the video can you please do one about who invented sphero? Oct 3, Feb 13, We hope that you do some research to find out! Ryan May 26, May 30, Thanks, Ryan!

May 11, Smells like updog in here. Chris Nov 27, Nov 28, Apr 18, Antonio perez Oct 18, Oct 18, We're glad you learned some new things from this Wonder, Antonio!

Francis Tormen Jan 7, Oct 14, Thanks for joining the discussion, corniya! We hope this Wonder gave you some new ideas! Jan 7, Jonathan Sep 24, Sep 26, Sep 24, Coolboy Feb 22, Wonderopolis Feb 24, Lawrence Young Jul 17, I think It would be cool to be a hovercraft like in sonic colors play on wii and nintendo ds.

Wonderopolis Jul 17, It's a vehicle that goes on water land and air multi powered engine. Wonderopolis Apr 22, Brooke Apr 16, Wonderopolis Apr 16, I really think that this is a huge step in our future. Wonderopolis Mar 17, Kyle striker Mar 15, I don't get this wonder.

Do you guys? Could you explain this wonder to me? If you could, that would be great!! Wonderopolis Mar 15, Wonder Friend "B" Nov 16, Any tips on the project for me? Wonderopolis Nov 16, Wonder Friend "B" Nov 15, I definitely will! I'm currently doing a science project on Hovercrafts and how they work and this is a GREAT wonder to teach me about it! Wonderopolis Nov 15, Wonder Friend "B" Nov 7, What would the future be like if hovercrafts were solar powered and could fly higher?!?!

Wonderopolis Nov 7, Wonderopolis Oct 5, Hi there Sawyer, that sounds pretty cool! If your CD has a non-shiny side, glue the lid or valve to that side. If you are using a pop-top lid, you can use craft glue or epoxy to do this.

If you want to use epoxy, have adult help and use caution, following all of the instructions and safety warnings on the packaging. The valve should just barely cover the hole in the center of the CD. With the valve in place on the CD, cover the base and sides of the valve with epoxy so that when the epoxy dries it will completely and securely attach the valve to the CD. Again, when using the epoxy have adult help and use caution, following all of the instructions and safety warnings on the packaging.

When using the glue or epoxy, be careful to only let epoxy go on the top side of the CD. If glue or epoxy dries on the bottom of the CD, this may make your hovercraft not work because it could have increased friction.

Allow the glue to dry completely. Optional: You can make several of these if you like by repeating steps Get ready to test the hovercraft with your balloon inflated to different sizes. Make sure the pop-top lid or valve is closed. Blow the balloon up as large as you safely can without popping it, then pinch or twist the balloon's neck so that no air can escape. Stretch the neck of the balloon over the pop-top lid or valve, being careful not to let any air escape. Carefully center the balloon's opening above the pop-top lid opening.

Tip: If the pop-top lid detaches from the CD and you used craft glue to glue them together, carefully re-glue them using epoxy. Your completed hovercraft should now look like the one of the ones in Figure 2 below.

It is now ready to do some hovering! Table 1. In your lab notebook, make a data table like this and record your results in it. Aerospace Engineer. Log in to add favorite More Menu Read More. Variations You can also measure the volume of air inside each balloon to have a more quantitative test of the hovercraft. You can measure the volume of air in the balloon in three ways: Water displacement method—dunk the filled balloon in a large metric measuring container.

Subtract the initial water height from the final water height, and the answer will be equal to the volume of the balloon. Air displacement method—Fill a large graduated cylinder with water in a large tub of water. Turn the cylinder bottom up and lift so that you can see the measurements, but keeping the opening of the cylinder under water so that the water will not escape. Place the pinched opening of the balloon near the opening of the cylinder and release the balloon so that the air travels up into the cylinder.

When the balloon is finished draining air, record the volume of air trapped in the cylinder. Geometric method gives an estimate —You can measure the circumference of the balloon and estimate the volume of the balloon based on the formula for the volume of a sphere. Try testing the hovercraft on different surfaces.

Which type of surface works best? Do different shapes or sizes of foam board affect how well the hovercraft hovers? You can carefully use epoxy to attach either the pop-top lid or valve to a piece of foam board.