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Description

To discover and explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in a fun way. To construct a moving hovercraft.

Resources

Balloon

CD or DVD

Pop up bottle top

Hot glue

Optional: Sellotape, pin.

Instructions

A hovercraft is a vehicle that glides over a smooth surface by hovering upon an air cushion. Because of this, a hovercraft is also called an air-cushion vehicle (ACV). How does the air cushion beneath the hovercraft allow the vehicle to glide freely? The air flow created by the balloon causes a cushion of moving air between the disc and the surface. This lifts the CD and reduces the friction, which allows the disc to hover freely. Large scale hovercraft are capable of travelling over land,snow and water.

Step 1: Hot glue a pop-up top to the centre of a CD or a DVD. Push the top down to
close.
Step 2: Blow up the balloon and twist it close.
Step 3: Carefully keeping the balloon twisted, stretch the end over the pop top.
Step 4: Now pop open the top and watch your hovercraft travel!
*use a smooth surface like a floor or countertop.
**hint: Cover the centre hole of the CD with a piece of tape and poke a few holes in the
tape with a push pin or small nail. This will slow down the flow of air and allow your
hovercraft to hover longer.

Tags

• Hovercraft
• Ladybird
• science
• STEM
• Trefoil News
• Trefoil News 2023
• Trefoil News Spring 2023

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