Thursday, August 09 2007

11:57 am Bill's land yacht report

The black pearls have come up with a simple idea, made with: a soft drink can, a plastic bag, 3 chopsticks and some cardboard. A land yacht is basically a wind powered car, or a car with no engine and a sail. It should be as light as possible and able to be pushed by a breeze. Land yachting is actually a real sport with full sized yachts that look like dirt buggies with sails. Our design is a soft drink can with both ends cut off (to minimize weight and wind resistance), chopsticks for axles, cardboard wheels, a chopstick for a mast, and a plastic bag (the kind used for fruit and veggies at the supermarket) for a sail. The aluminium in the can is light and the yacht should not be too heavy overall, and I know for a fact that small plastic bags can carry things reasonable distances.

Sunday, August 12 2007 7:08 PM By Teacher

It will be interesting to test your plastic bag idea. Will the situations you know of where they can carry things reasonable distances transfer well to an application on Land Yachts?

Also, consider the safety aspects of cutting the aluminum can. The fact that they are light (a good thing) is because they are thin and will make a sharp (possible jagged) edge when you cut it. Consider how you will cut it safely and further, use it for construction of the yacht (safely). - Teacher

Monday, August 13 2007 2:06 PM By Joe

I thought if you minimise wind resistance, it gets worse. - Joe

Monday, August 13 2007 2:20 PM By Teacher

Minimizing wind resistance means that the yacht won't have to push against air but cut through it. The thin edge will go straight through the air and will go faster. The bottom of the can would normally have to move wind away and make it slower, but with a thin edge it will go a lot more quickly.

Thursday, September 06 2007 10:22 AM By Sarah

Hi it's Sarah, what have u been doing to the yacht? Have you had any more test runs? Have you changed anything to the yacht to make it faster?