Lesson 3: Reducing Hydrodynamic Drag
Duration of Days: 3.5
Lesson Objective
Students will design and test different nose cone geometries to minimize "bow waves" and maximize speed.
1. How does a "dolphin-nose" cone reduce water resistance compared to a flat surface?
2. Why does spray indicate an inefficient design?
Hydrodynamics, Skin-Friction Drag, Form Drag, Laminar Flow, Wake.
CTE PS 9: Design and test prototypes to gather performance data.
Students shape nose cones (curved, pointed, flat) and attach them to a test hull. They pull the hull through a water trough using a constant-force weight system to measure time/resistance.
Purpose: To observe how fluid dynamics dictates shape in engineering.
DOK Level: Level 3 (Strategic Thinking).
Allow students to use 3D printing software to "sculpt" their nose cones if they struggle with manual carving.
A "Drag Comparison Table" comparing the speed of three different nose cone designs.
Foam blocks, sandpaper, hobby knives, water trough/gutter, string and pulleys.