Rubber Band Powered Boat Race
Mendham High School
Technological Applications
Marking Period 1 & 3
Major Project
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. Making, Testing and Fixing.
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.
Max 2 lengths of Balsa wood
Two rubber bands each approximately provided by instructor.
If needed a single mouse trap can be used
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:
- Their has to be detailed sketches of the boat and at least three other possible
solutions
- The boat must be constructed during a eight (8) period length of time
- The boat must have a width of at least 4” and a length of 12" at its longest point.
- All materials can be modified.
- Each student must have a team designed flag on their boat. The flag must stand
at least six inches high.
- Each student must submit their own TECH REPORT
Testing:
Most testing will be completed in the sink, however two periods before testing day the
Tech Room River will be completed and students will be able to test their boats. The
dimensions of the Tech Room River will be posted.
Hint:
Below is a simplified diagram of a simple boat. However, this is only one of many
possible configurations, and certainly not the most efficient!
ASSESSMENT:
Did you participate in the technology activities?
Did you participate in class discussions?
Did you take notes?
What were your out comes?
Were you able to solve the problem?
What was the reason for this activity?
Mendham High School
Technology Education
Name:_____________________
Rubber Band Powered
Boat
1 Group has followed all Foreign
the rules
Materials
(not approved)
- 5pts.
2 Students working in lab Poor behavior
Student was
reminded to
behave
3 Performance
4 Tech Report &
Miscellaneous
Boat has
been built out
of approved
materials
10pts.
Group
participated
and followed
all safety
rules
Boat floats Students
worked
together
effectively
5 pts.
10 pts.
Students Student
went
was
above and reminded
beyond to more than
keep lab once to
clean
keep
safety
glasses on
15pts
- 10pts
- 5pts
10pts
Group’s boat
competed in the
tech bracket
competition.
Students
Boat fits
boat reached inside of
the other side the specs.
of the river
35 pts
25 pts
50 pts
Poss. Score
25 pts.
max
25pts.
max
Students 125 pts.
time was max
faster than
the
average of
the class
15 pts
The boat had a .Power Point Student completed
flag displayed presentation. the tech report,
completing each
stage of the design
process
10 pts
15pts
50 pts
75 pts
max
Total
200pts.
Late 1 day -10%