Hover craft

hovercraft
A work in progress
By Nick Carrion

Testable Question
How changes to the design of the common homemade Hovercraft project will affect its effectiveness, in: Pressure ofair, balance, and functionality?

Hypothesis
The Hovercraft will hover differently but, still hover.

Materials Used
Plywood, parachute nylon (or something similar), plastic curtain, scissors,safety goggles, safety gloves, duck tape, motorized stapler (or pressurized), drill, jigsaw (or something similar), leaf blower (cordless preferred), chalk or marker, something for base support (ifnecessary), extension cord (if blower not cordless), and (if blower has safety cup plug end), either cut cup, or use some kind of adapter.

Data
A hovercraft is a type of vehicle that rides on airthat is under pressure. A flexible curtain, called a skirt, is attached to the outer perimeter of the craft to contain the air beneath it. The propellers force air toward the back of the craft,creating a forward thrust. The fans direct the air that is under pressure into the chamber beneath the craft. This air cushion lifts the hovercraft up, creating a small gap between the craft and theground, for air to escape. The goals of this project are:
1) to build a hovercraft on which you can glide over a flat surface
2) to test what features affect the performance of the hovercraft. There area number of variables that are considered: Surface - The type of surface that the hovercraft is over will also affect performance. Smooth, flat surfaces may allow the formation of an aircushion under the craft. Irregular surfaces may pose a problem since the air in the air cushion can escape, lowering the pressure under the craft. Hovercraft design - The performance of the hovercraft,may vary with decisions over vent holes, the amount of material in the skirt, the size of the surface over the skirt, and the power of the blower.

Procedure
1. Assemble all of the materials...