Making a Steam Boat
Grade 8 Activity Plan
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Making a Steam Boat
Objectives:
1. To understand energy conversions associated with heat energy.
2. To know the science behind, and be acquainted with, natural and artificial
occurrences of phase changes.
3. To understand Newton’s third law of motion (from the thrust).
4. To know how steam boats work and other applications of steam (e.g. turbines).
Keywords/concepts: combustion and combustion engines, phase change, heat,
temperature, vapour, thrust.
Curriculum outcomes: 307-9, 307-10.
Take-home product: steam boat
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Segment
Details
African Proverb
and Cultural
Relevance
(5 min.)
“Don’t take another mouthful before you have swallowed what
is in your mouth.” Madagascar
Pre-test
(5 min.)
Ask probing questions on students’ knowledge of heat, water,
and steam together? Define and illustrate key concepts where
applicable.
Background
(15 min.)
What is heat energy, how it is produced, harnessed and used in
everyday life.
Activity 1
(45 min.)
Have each student assemble their own steam boat with
material provided. Paint boat at the very end. While waiting on
paint to dry discuss more uses of steam energy.
Follow-up
(10 min.)
Re-assemble and try to sail steam boats. Discuss the science
behind the sailing of the boats.
Post-test
(10 min.)
Oral Question and answer session
Suggested interpretation of proverb: One needs to always have their priorities right. It is
not good to rush. Concentrate on what is present and necessary. As seen in the
activity, the engine would eject steam before sucking in more water into it.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Heat energy is the energy produced by the moving atoms or molecules. Heat is produced from
the movement of molecules. The faster the molecules move the more heat is produced. The
heat energy created can be used to produce other forms of energy, such as steam energy.
For more information on heat energy see activity 7.7
Steam is defined as an odourless, invisible gas consisting of vaporized water. It is
usually intermingled with tiny droplets of water, which gives it a white, cloudy appearance.
Steam is water vapour that is heated to the boiling point. Energy in steam is held both in heat
and pressure. When heat is applied to a water molecule, the atoms begin to move very rapidly
around it. The change of state from a liquid to a gas takes place when the energized, moving
molecule of water takes to the air because of its quickly moving electrons.
When the pressure in steam is released, it transfers its energy to whatever it hits, usually a
turbine or a piston. The transfer of energy from the steam to the object causes it to move. This
movement can be used to generate electrical energy, or it can use the steam energy directly as
seen in machines such as steam-powered trains, steam engines, and steam shovels. The
transfer of energy is what is used in many power plants to transfer the heat energy released
from the fuel to the turbine.Water is heated to steam in power plants, and the pressurized steam
drives turbines that produce electrical current. The thermal energy of steam is thus converted to
mechanical energy, which in turn is converted into electricity. The steam used to drive the
turbogenerators furnishes most of the world's electric power. Steam is also widely employed in
such industrial processes as the manufacture of steel, aluminium, copper, and nickel; the
production of chemicals; and the refining of petroleum. In the home, steam has long been used
for cooking and heating.
The heart of a steamboat is the steam engine. Water is fed into a boiler, which heats it up until it
produces steam which is used to power the boat.
In the steamboat activity the candle provides the heat energy needed to power the steam boat
by heating the water in the coil; thus producing steam. The steam pushes the water from the
tubes and generates the forward motion of the boat.
Sources:
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Encyclopaedia Britannica Standard Edition 2004.
Wikipedia Free Encyclopaedia visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4614836_a-steamboat-work.html
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Activity 1: Making a Steamboat
Source: http://sciencetoymaker.org/boat/index.htm
Purpose: To know how steam boats work and other applications of steam (e.g. turbines).
Suggested format: students should be encouraged to work in teams but should have their individual setups. If there is any pond or safe water body around, endeavour to take students out to sail their boats.
Note: It is advisable to go through the activity, identify sections that might stall the progress of the session
and devise a means to tackle them. Cutting of the beverage should be done for the students beforehand.
Item
Balsa board (16 × 3 in) (1/16 “ thick)
Balsa board (12 × 3 in) (1/8 in thick)
Aluminium beverage can
Scissors
Masking tape
X-acto knife
Thin birthday candles
Electric drill and bits
Quick set epoxy glue
Aluminium foil
Balloon
Erlenmeyer flask
10watt Glue guns
Sticks of glue for glue gun
Non-latex gloves (in case of allergies)
Wooden ruler
matches
Large container (for sailing boat)
Tap water
Soft card board
Oil paint
Paint Brushes
Quantity (10 students)
11 sheet
22 sheet
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6
3
1
11
1 set
11
1
4
4 (25 mL flasks)
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30
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11
1 box
1
Enough to sail boats
11 large sheets
2 colours
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Procedure:
Be gentle when handling this project as any kink on the metal no matter how
small might ruin the outcome.
1. Select an aluminium beverage can that has no dents (even the smallest dent
can cause leaks that might ruin this project) and rinse it to remove any sticky
soda.
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2. Cut off the top of the can. Using an x-acto knife, start by carefully making a slit at
the top point where the can has its maximum diameter. Continue with a pair of
scissors until the top is completely off (do not worry about jagged edges.)
3. With the scissors, cut down to the bottom of the can and cut off the bottom such
that in the end, the beverage can will be rectangular.
4. You will discover that line at the bottom is much smoother than the one at the
top. Now cut off the jagged edge at the top following a faint straight line on the
inner part of the can.
Your rectangular sheet should be ready to go!
5. Tape the shorter ends of the rectangle together; lining them up such that one
end leads the other by about 3mm (you will notice that this creates a loop)
6. Flatten the loop by gently pressing it down from the taped end; flatten the other
end using a ruler or something flat. Do not hit the ruler it too hard, the aluminium
might break.
Print off a copy of the document in the link below if it is not in your binder. Ensure
that it is printed to scale.
http://sciencetoymaker.org/boat/images/enginePatternJan09.PDF
7. Cut a boiler pattern (do not cut directly on the border, allow some space) and
tape it to the folded aluminium in a landscape orientation. Be sure to use small
loops of masking tape so that the paper can come off easily.
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8. After attaching the boiler pattern, carefully cut the aluminium and paper on
both sides with the solid lines on the paper as guide.
9. Now using a table with a sharp edge (DO NOT use one with a rounded edge)
bend the aluminium; lining up the broken lines with the sharp edge. Use a
masking tape to secure the aluminium, this will keep it steady during bending.
Bend until you can notice a clear fold line on the aluminium. Repeat this step for
the other side.
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10. Remove all masking tapes and paper pattern; and bend the flaps all the way
using a plastic card (debit or identification card) as guide. It is very important to
bend the flaps along the straight line.
11. Flatten it more by placing and hitting a wooden ruler on the bent flap. The
aluminium is now closed on three sides and open on one side.
Flexible part
Shorter end
Longer part
12. Using your thumbnail, separate the flaps of the open end and insert the longer
end of two straws one at a time, line them up and push them in until you feel
they have reached the bottom. Do not push them too hard so they dont break
open the other end.
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13. Insert the shorter end of the third straw but this time, make sure the flexible part is
not inserted.
14. Place two tape-loops on the flat smooth side of the aluminium, and attach the
aluminium to a soft cardboard using the tape loops. Gently press down the sides
of flap to flatten thebottom and emphasize the arch on the top made by the
straws.
15. Mix up the two-part epoxy glue. Using a scrap strip of aluminium, separate the
flaps and apply gule to them. Apply the glue carefully to avoid smearing all over
the work space but generously to avoid leaks, quickly run a scrap strip of metal
through inbetween the flaps in order to let the glue penetrate. Allow to glue to
set for about 5minutes.
16. When the glue hardens, take out the straws. Meaure 1.5” from the flexible part
into the shorter end of two straws and cut them. Apply a thin layer of the epoxy
glue on the shorter end of the straws and insert them one after the other into the
aluminium leaving about ¼” space to the flexible part sticking out. Be sure to
wipe off any glue on the flexible part before it gets hard. If glue remains on
flexible part, you might have to start all over. Allow the glue to set. Separate the
engine from the cardboard gently to avoid kinks.
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17. Using some epoxy, fill any holes to avoid leaks. Do not put too much glue, instead
after covering up the holes, place the engine on the cardboard horizontally and
allow the glue to set. The space enclosed by the sealing give enough room for
the engine to expand and contract.
18. Intuitively identify areas of possible leakage and fill them with glue. Avoid putting
any glue on the part that will be directly above the candle, the smell of burning
epoxy glue is obnoxious.
19. Pressure test for leaks. If there are any leaks, gently dry the spot and fill with glue.
20. For mentor only. Mentor should make this pattern before the after-school session.
The engine works better at an angle. Now rough-cut out the bend pattern, and
tape it to a cardboard sheet. Cut the outlines. Again, use the sharp corner of a
table to make bends.
21. Remove the pattern and tape up the 3D geometric shape formed.
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22. Using a glue gun, spread some glue on the flexible part evenly. Be sure to use a
10watt glue gun as any power higher than this might melt the straw.
23. Remove all tapes and trim the straw 4” from the flexible part.
24. Sort and arrange boat pieces. Glue the pieces to the boat starting with the
back and finishing with the deck. If time permits, allow students to pain and
personalize their boats.
25. Once the boat frame is dry, make holes and insert the engine. Be sure to cover
any hole created with glue to avoid the boat from sinking.
26. Fill up the straws with water and put the boat on the water-body without letting
any water drain from the straws.
27. Cut a birthday candle in half. Using aluminium foil, make a flat stand for the
candle. Place the top half of the candle on the stand and position it right under
the aluminium engine and ignite it... watch your boat “pot-pot!”
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Post-Test
Answer each of the following six questions. Write your answers in the blocks below.
Once you answer the questions. Use the numbers underneath the block to encode the
answer to the bonus question.
1. Heat is produced from the movement of water __________________________.
2. Steam is defined as an odourless, invisible gas consisting of _____________
________.
3. Steam is water vapour that is heated to the ______________ ____________.
4. An engine whose fuel is combusted outside of it is called an _______________
combustion engine.
5. An engine whose fuel is combusted inside of it is called an _______________
combustion engine.
6. The heat energy needed to power the steamboats in today’s activity was
provided by a _____________.
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Bonus: What was the name of the famous steamboat featured in Walt Disney’s 3rd
Mickey Mouse Cartoon in 1928?
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