Rubber Band Powered Boat Race
Mendham High School
Major Project
--- Technological Applications ---
Objective of this Project: To construct with a teammate a boat to race against other teams. The boats will be
powered by rubber bands.
Research: Each student will research rubber band vehicles (boats) on-line to look for ideas for their design.
Drawings: They will submit three detailed sketches of different ideas. Once they have this they will determine
how they will build the final product. Then each student will draw a final plan with dimension lines and a
description of what the boat will be made from and how the boat will work.
Materials:
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A pair of scissors.
A stapler with staples.
Manual cutting tools
Power tools that you have been approved for.
One 8.5" by 11" piece of paper for notes/blueprints.
Each group can only use the designated amount of foam. (4”w x 2” H x”6”L)
Max 2 lengths of 1/8 x 1/8 Balsa wood
Two rubber bands each provided by instructor.
Students can use wood out of the scrap boxes
Other supplies may be brought into class from home. However those supplies must be approved
by instructor.
Rules for construction of the boat:
- You must draw detailed sketches of the boat and at least three other possible solutions
- The boat must have a width of at least 4” and a length of 12" at its longest point.
- All materials can be modified.
- Boat will be disqualified if it contacts the bottom of river, or relies on contacting any part of river sides
to assist in guidance/ propulsion.
- Each student must have a team designed 3” x 5” flag on their boat. The flag must stand at least six
inches high.
Grading:
Each student will receive two grades.
1) Team grade on performance and design of project.
2) Team grade on design documentation
PERIOD: _____________
DATE: ___________
Team Members: _______________________________________________________________________
PERFORMANCE: (possible 10 points total)
Points
Distance – 1 pt/ ft of travel Max 10
Launch 1:
Launch 2:
Launch 3:
QUALITY & CRAFTSMANSHIP & FINISH: (possible 95 points total)
Craftsmanship:
Sloppy, incomplete, poor construction. Does not look like original design plans.
Average workmanship, looks like original design plans.
Outstanding quality. Looks like it was built in a factory. Accurate cutting and
shaping demonstrated. Matches original design plans.
value
Seaworthiness. (possible 10 points total)
Boat does not tip, list, take on water, or sink.
Comments:
10
Points
25
35
45
Total
ORIGINALITY & DESIGN: (possible 35 points total)
Unique, Innovative, Original boat/propulsion design
Complete, detailed design plans and they match final product
Team flag, original, unique and easy to read and understand
Size minimum: 4” x 12” minimum
Comments:
Points
10
10
10
5
Total
Design Documentation: (possible 65
points total)
1 paragraph explaining what you learned
about boat construction through research
_______
5 pts.
Having 6 different ideas sketched out (3
per person)
_______
15 pts.
One design chosen and drawn to scale
_______
10 pts.
1 paragraph explaining why the final
design was chosen
_______
10 pts.
1 paragraph explaining how the design
was constructed
_______
5 pts.
1 paragraph explaining how your design
performed after testing
_______
10 pts.
1 paragraph explaining how you would
redesign your prototype to improve it
_______
10 pts.
TOTAL:
_______
___________ / 150
/ 65