Buoyency Boat

Imagination Station

Weight (or cargo) on the Buoyancy Boat

Keep an Even Keel!

LOCATION: WATER TABLE IN WATER WORKS ON THE UPPER LEVEL

Can you place the cargo on the boat to keep it stable?  How many different ways can you stack 10 blocks?  15 blocks?  Why is it a bad idea to stand or move around in a small boat?

Which is more stable?

Boats stay upright because they are stable.  An unstable boat – one with cargo too high or near the edge – might capsize (tip over).  The same cargo stacked near the center of the boat could be much more stable.

Boats float because their hulls displace (push away) water.  The further the hull goes into the water, the more water is displaced.  The hull stops going deeper when the weight of the boat and cargo is the same as the weight of the displaced water.

Imagination Station

Buoyency Boat in Water Works