For Portsmouth High School, situated just five minutes from the sea in Southsea, the sight and sound of the hovercraft is a familiar experience. It is easy to forget that the hovercraft, which runs from Southsea to Ryde, is the world’s only year-round scheduled passenger hovercraft service in the world.
This term, Year 7 been learning about forces, interaction pairs and how physics affects every aspect of our physical universe. The class have been investigating practical aspects of forces though learning how a hovercraft, also known as an air-cushion vehicle or ACV, is capable of travelling over land, water, mud, ice, and various other surfaces.
This week Year 7 built their own hovercrafts, enthusiastically applying their knowledge of forces to make an ACV using a CD, pop bottle top and balloon. There were mini competitions for the best decorated hovercraft, the longest timed hover, the hover which could carry the most passengers (paper clips) and an extension task for best hovercraft engineer – encouraging the girls to take risks and try to improve their design.
The girls’ ideas included (i) a skirt, a “momentum cushion”, to improve airflow efficiently and maintain lift, (Ranica and Jessica) (ii) a supportive chimney for the balloon to improve stability and ensure steady airflow (Sophie C), as well as (iii) passenger carriers (Frankie B and Missy MD, Kitty and Alex, Flo and Chloe), and (iv) balloon stability bags to improve passenger comfort (Lottie B and Bibi D).
Dr Stockton-Chalk said ‘Well done all of Year 7. The girls embraced the challenges this week and had so much fun too. Thank you also to my colleagues Dr Filer and Mr Oliver for taking the other Year 7 classes, designing hovercrafts with them, and sharing my passion for physics with their students.’
In Dr Stockton-Chalk’s class well done to Amelia K for her best design AND longest timed hover. Congratulations to Sophie C for her creativity and design, her ideas were innovative and many. The winning vehicle to carry ‘most passengers’, is still under debate and it might be necessary to have a recount!
