BuiId your own hovercraft and power it with a standard shop vacuum.

Demonstrate the ability of air to reduce friction by gliding students down the hall on
the Human Hockey Puck. You can also demonstrate the lifting ability of compressed
air, we have had as many as four students ride the craft at one time.

Click here to see the Human Hockey Puck in action.
ateriaIs:

. 4 x 8 sheet of 3/8 inch plywood&emdash;good on one side. Have the lumber store
split into two 4 x 4 Pieces.
2. 6 x 6 foot square of 6 mill visqueen (heavy plastic). Obtained from hardware or
lumber store.
3. 50&emdash;5/8 inch round head screw.
4. 3&emdash;metal washers to be used with the 5/8 inch screws
5. /4 inch carriage bolt and 3/4 inch long and nut
6. 2 metal washers to fit the carriage bolt
7. One plastic coffee can lid (approximately 5 inches in diameter)
8. Staple gun (desk type will also work)
9. Two pieces of 3.4 wood 4" x 4" (Oak Works well).
0. Duct tape
. One shop vac
2. Scrap wood to build a stool (optional)
onstruction:
. With a saber saw, cut a disc out of each plywood sheet. The top disc should have
a diameter of 48 inches. Theo other disc should be cut to a diameter of 47 inches. f
the bottom disc is cut a little smaller, the overhang of the top disc will protect the
rolled edge of the visqueen covering on the bottom disc when the craft is stored on
its edge.
2. The bottom disc must have the edges of the plywood sanded round to protect the
visqueen covering. used a router to shape both the top and bottom edge of the
plywood disc. lightly sanded the edge to give it a smooth surface. also routed and
smoothed the edges of the top disc to prevent splintering or slivers.
3. Drill a /4 inch hole in the center of both discs.
4. Drill a /4 inch hole in one of the 4 x 4 inch wood blocks.
5. Temporarily bolt the two discs together and drill a hole large enough to receive the
end of the plastic hose of the shop vac. This hole should be located halfway between
the center of the disc and the outer edge. This hole must go through both discs and
should provide a rather tight fit for the shop vac hope (if needed, tape can be used
on the end of the shop vac hose to take up any sloppy play). Also drill the same size
hole in one of the 4 x 4 inch wood blocks.
6. Tightly cover the bottom surface of the smaller disc with the visqueen, folding it
over the top and staple in place as shown in the diagram.
7. Poke a hole in the visqueen where the bolt will go through and reinforce this area
with duct tape. covered about a six inch square area in the center of the visqueen.
8. Bolt the top piece of plywood and the bottom disc together as shown in the
diagram. Be sure to insert the bolt through the washer and plastic coffee can lid first
then through the two discs and wooden block. Secure with a washer and nut.
9. Screw the edges of the discs together using 5/8 inch round head screws spaced
about 3 inches apart. These screws should help form a tight seal and prevent air
leakage.
0. Screw the coffee can lid firmly in place using three 5/8 inch screws and washer.
. Cut several air holes in the visqueen. made a cutting tool out of an old piece of
shower curtain rod. t has a diameter of about inch and it is made of thin brass so
was able to sharpen a cutting edge with a round file. This worked well because it
made a nice clean hole. A large cork baring tool could also be used to cut nice clean
holes in the plastic. The pattern shown in the diagram is the one used, and it
worked well. You may want to experiment with your own pattern.
. made a stool tall enough to fit over the shop vac. The students could sit in the
center when riding the hovercraft.
2. Good luck and happy hovering.
iagram
Click here to download a printable PDF of the diagram. (Adober Acrobat Reader is
required. See www.adobe.com for a free copy.)

Hovercraft instructions by:
David Arlander
John Adams Science Department
The John Adams H2 P: The Human Hockey Puck



Hovercraft Science Project
1hls arLlcle wlll explaln how Lo consLrucL a slmple hovercrafL sclence pro[ecL PovercrafLs are vehlcles
LhaL need no roads Lo Lravel as Lhey are vehlcles floaLlng on alr SLudenLs wlll surely have a loL of fun
ln bulldlng and operaLlng a hovercrafL sclence pro[ecL ln Lhe process Lhey wlll also grasp some baslc
physlcs prlnclples along Lhe way

lf you are looklng for an 8Lh grade sclence falr pro[ecL you have landed Lo Lhe rlghL place1hls arLlcle
ls a noL so long lnLroducLlon Lo deslgn and bulld your own hovercrafL sclence pro[ecL PovercrafLs are
advanced vehlcles concepLuallzed ln Lhe beglnnlng of Lhe lasL cenLury and broughL lnLo reallLy ln Lhe
1930s by SovleL 8ussla Slnce Lhen commerclal hovercrafLs have been deslgned and operaLed ln
clvlllan as well as defense appllcaLlons 1he advanLage of a hovercrafL ls LhaL lL ls an all Lerraln
vehlcle lL can move over land waLer and alr 1hey are verlLable forLresses floaLlng ln alr 1hls
characLerlsLlc makes lL lndlspensable ln defense appllcaLlons 1hose of you who are wonderlng whaL
a hovercrafL looks llke mlghL recall Lhe acLlon sequence from ule AnoLher uay ln whlch 007 escapes
ln a hovercrafL from Lhe korean mlllLary base

Sclence pro[ecLs are an lmporLanL parL of your sclence educaLlon Sclence ls noL [usL readlng books
1he real fun of learnlng sclence ls ln applylng sclenLlflc prlnclples Lo undersLand Lhe varlous
phenomena ln naLure and apply lL Lo solve real problems ln llfe Sclence Leaches you abouL Lhe
physlcal laws of naLure Applylng Lhose slmple laws we can creaLe machlnes llke Lhe hovercrafL LhaL
floaL on alr! As napoleon Plll has sald WhaL Lhe mlnd can concelve lL can achleve Man has Lo be
reallsLlc buL LhaL does noL mean you sLop lmaglnlng! lmaglne concepLuallze and work on brlnglng
your concepL lnLo reallLy 1haL ls applled sclence or englneerlng

Sclence falr pro[ecLs are opporLunlLles Lo learn and have a loL of fun! 1oplc ldeas for hlgh school
sclence falr pro[ecLs are lnnumerable Pow abouL creaLlng your own llLLle hovercrafL sclence falr
pro[ecL? 1hough your mlnlaLure hovercrafL wonL solve your LransporLaLlon problems lL wlll cerLalnly
glve you an ldea abouL how real hovercrafLs work! 1he hovercrafL LhaL you wlll learn Lo bulld here
wlll acLually llfL you off Lhe ground! 1hls ls really a fun sclence falr pro[ecL Lo do So leL us geL sLarLed
wlLh Lhe assembly lnsLrucLlon of your very own hovercrafL sclence falr pro[ecL 8efore LhaL leL us
make a llsL of all Lhe Lhlngs LhaL you wlll need Lo bulld your hovercrafL or Poverboard!

1h|ngs ou Need for novercraft Sc|ence ro[ect

1hls ls Lhe llsL of essenLlals for your hovercrafL sclence pro[ecL
O 8aLLery operaLed Leaf 8lower or vacuum Cleaner wlLh 8lower CuLleL
O Pard lywood Square SheeL 3 feeL or 4 feeL ln lengLh Z lnch Lhlck or a round Lable Lop
around 30 lnch ln dlameLer wlLh same Lhlckness
O A Lhlck plasLlc sheeL whlch ls 1 fooL larger ln dlameLer Lhan above plywood sheeL (An old
shower curLaln or vlsqueen sheeL wlll do!)
O lasLlc dlsc(Could be a coffee can lld) 6 lnch ln dlameLer abouL 1/8 lnch Lhlck or a wooden
dlsc of same dlmenslons)
O lnch 8olL 1/40
O nuL 1/40
O lender Washers
O lecLrlc Saw
O urlll
O knlfe
O SLaple Cun
O uucL 1ape
O Cld 8lke 1yres or uucL 1ape
O SmooLh lloor for operaLlon (SmooLh concreLe floor wlll do)
u||d|ng our Cwn novercraft Sc|ence ro[ect

Pere ls a sLepwlse procedure Lo bulld your own hovercrafL sclence pro[ecL lf you are sLlll ln school
and have no experlence wlLh uslng Lools Lake Lhe help of someone who knows how WaLch and
learn!

Step 1Make the kound Wooden D|sk

uraw a round dlsk ouLllne of deslred dlameLer on Lhe square plece of plywood CuL Lhe plywood
along Lhe ouLllne ?ou can also keep lL square buL Lhen round ls safer as square edges may hurL nexL
mark Lhe exacL cenLer of Lhe dlsk or square urlll a hole ln Lhe cenLer abouL 3/16 lnch ln dlameLer
Check LhaL Lhe lnch bolL passes Lhrough lL easlly

Step 2 Mak|ng a no|e for the Leaf |ower

nexL you musL make anoLher hole for Lhe leaf blower 1he hole should be abouL halfway beLween
Lhe cenLer and Lhe edge of Lhe dlsk or square keep Lhe leaf blower or vacuum cleaner face down on
Lhe plywood and draw an ouLllne of lLs mouLh 1hen cuL ouL Lhe hole and make sure LhaL Lhe leaf
blower snugly flLs lnLo LhaL hole Cnce lnserLed Lhe mouLh of Lhe blower musL be ln level wlLh Lhe
underslde of Lhe dlsk

Step 3 St|ck the |ast|c Sheet Sk|rt

Spread Lhe plasLlc sheeL on Lhe floor keep Lhe plywood dlsc over lL Wrap Lhe plasLlc sheeL over Lhe
dlsc LoLally such LhaL one whole slde of Lhe dlsk ls wrapped ln lL Make sure LhaL Lhls wrapplng ls
LlghL buL noL Loo LlghL!

When alr ls blown lnLo Lhls plasLlc sheeL lL ls golng Lo lnflaLe and lf lLs Loo LlghL lL wlll Lear! 1hls wlll
ground your hovercrafL lnsLanLly and lLs hoverlng days wlll be over use a sLaple gun Lo sLaple Lhe
plasLlc wrapplng LlghLly SLaple aL regular lnLervals along Lhe edge of Lhe dlsk ?ou could also use
ducL Lape and secure Lhe plasLlc ln place 1hls forms Lhe sklrL of Lhe hovercrafL or hoverboard 1he
plasLlc sheeL slde ls Lhe boLLom of Lhe hovercrafL

Step 4I|x the center bo|t and make ho|es |n p|ast|c

nexL lL ls Llme Lo puL Lhe cenLer bolL ln urlll a hole Lhrough Lhe small dlsk and keep lL aL Lhe cenLer
boLLom of Lhe dlsk 1he bolL head should be on Lhe boLLom slde and everyLhlng should be allgned ln
Lhe followlng order Lhe bolL washer and Lhe plasLlc dlsk on Lhe boLLom slde and Lhen anoLher
washer and flxlng nuL of Lhe bolL on Lhe oLher slde

nexL cuL small holes ln Lhe plasLlc sheeL abouL Lwo lnch ln dlameLer around Lhe small cenLer plasLlc
dlsk Make sure LhaL Lhe holes are noL Loo close as oLherwlse Lhe fabrlc Lears!

Step S I|x the |eaf b|ower and then |ts hover|ng t|me!

Cnce you are done wlLh Lhe holes Lhe dlsk ls compleLely ready for launch llx Lhe leaf blower ln Lhe
hole made for lL lace Lhe dlsk LhaL ls your mlnlaLure hovercrafL on a smooLh floor surface LlfL lL up
a blL and Lhen sLarL Lhe leaf blower 1he sklrL of Lhe hovercrafL wlll lnflaLe and lL wlll sLarL hoverlng
over Lhe ground!

1hls ls a slmplesL meLhod Lo make a hovercrafL sclence pro[ecL 1he alr cushlon pressure creaLed
under Lhe hovercrafL dlsk counLerbalances gravlLy and evenLually lL llfLs Lhe hovercrafL ln Lhe alr 1he
alr cushlon under Lhe sklrL reduces! 1hus Lhe prlnclple of worklng of Lhe hovercrafL ls slmple enough
Lo explaln 1he amounL of welghL Lhe hovercrafL can llfL compleLely depends on Lhe amounL of alr
pressure creaLed under lL by Lhe alr cushlon lf you wanL a more powerful hovercrafL you need a
more powerful blower!

Pope you en[oy maklng your hovercrafL sclence pro[ecL lf you flnd any flaws wlLh Lhls consLrucLlon
Lhen make lmprovemenLs and keep lmprovlslng Llll lL sLarLs hoverlng!

8y Cray llgrlm
ubllshed 8/1/009