MODEL SOLAR BOAT GUIDE

BY WAYNE YOUNG This guide to model solar Boat Design and Manufacture is aimed at students and contains lots of useful data and suggestions. Mr. Wayne Young has kindly allowed this book to be published in this electronic format so it can be available to assist as many students as possible. NOTE: This book is not being updated; consequently supplier and contact details may not be accurate. You must also check the latest event Regulations as these do change.

Wayne Young

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Model Solar Boats Guide Written by Wayne Young and illustrated by Wayne Young and Sven Shepherd. Thanks to Vicki Young for her input. About the author - Wayne Young is currently a teacher at the Billanook College and has assisted primary and secondary students in both the car and boat competition at many schools. He is also a member of the Victorian and National Model Solar Vehicle Challenge Committees. What is the model solar vehicle challenge? Students make and race model solar boats or cars that are about halt a metre long. The Model Solar Vehicle Challenge started in 1990 through collaboration between teachers and staff at Monash University. Now every state has a competition and at the Australian Championships teams from Argentina, Canada and Vietnam also competed successfully in the car race. The boat race started in Victoria in 1994 with the first Australian Model Solar Boat Championship in 2001. What background is needed? Students who had no previous experience in this area have successfully made and raced boats. The boat competition is aimed at both primary and secondary students. Currently the upper age limit varies from state to state. What is the purpose of this guide? This guide aims to give you the necessary information to be able to investigate, design, construct, test, modify and race model solar boats as part of the Model Solar Vehicle Challenge. Wayne Young E-mail wayneyoung@billanook.vic.edu.au Note All sections of this guide are copyright and may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or by photocopy, recording or otherwise without written permission of the author Wayne Young 2002. Every effort has been made to ensure this guide is free from errors and omissions. All sources of information are believed correct but are not guaranteed. The author does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracies or for any injury, loss or damage occasioned to any person as a result of using this guide. ABN 12 738 990 830.

My contact details are

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Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................1 Some Common Questions Answered ............................................................................2 Forming a Team .............................................................................................................4 Getting Organised ..........................................................................................................5 The Technology Process ................................................................................................8 1 Investigate ...............................................................................................................8 1.1 Useful information .....................................................................................8 1.2 References and useful sources of information .........................................10 2 Design ...................................................................................................................12 3 Construct ..........................................................................................................15 3.1 Safety .............................................................................................................15 3.2 How to make a model solar boat badly..........................................................15 3.3 Building a very fast boat ................................................................................16 3.4 Building a boat ...............................................................................................16 3.5 Possible sources of materials .........................................................................17 4 Testing / Modify ...................................................................................................20 4.1 Standard testing..............................................................................................21 4.2 Advanced testing............................................................................................21 4.3 Trouble shooting ............................................................................................22 5 Before the Race.....................................................................................................23 5.1 Scrutineering ..................................................................................................23 5.2 Poster judging ................................................................................................23 5.3 What to bring on race day..............................................................................24 5.4 What to do on race day .............................................................................25 Supervisors Section......................................................................................................26 Preparation ...............................................................................................................26 Getting started..........................................................................................................26 Investigation, design and construction.....................................................................26 Useful references Internet .................................................................................27 Materials safety information ................................................................................28 Sample Information letters that could be modified to suit...................................29 How To Make A Portable Test Pond for Model Solar Boats. .....................................30 Materials ..................................................................................................................30 Method .....................................................................................................................30 Setting up an advanced testing course .........................................................................32 Materials needed ......................................................................................................32 Method .....................................................................................................................32 Links to the CSF ..........................................................................................................33

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Figures
Figure 1 Solar powered bottle boat................................................................................3 Figure 2 Sample Time Line ...........................................................................................5 Figure 3 Model Trimaran.............................................................................................11 Figure 4 Guide Ideas ....................................................................................................19 Figure 5 Common Problems ........................................................................................23

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Introduction
This guide will take you through all the steps you will need to design and make a working solar powered model boat. If your school is entering the Solar Boat Challenge you will be able to enter your boat into the competition by following this guide. Even if your school is not entering the competition you will have a boat that you can race against others in your class You get to make decisions about how the boat will look and be made as part of a team. It is a lot of fun working with other students to research, design and make a model solar boat. To be an effective team you will need to cooperate and plan. It is OK to make mistakes: thats how you will learn what works and what doesnt work. When you think of new ways to do it better you are being creative. When you are planning the next step you are being organised. Teams need people that are creative, are organised, and can make mistakes and learn from them. If you are entering the Solar Boat Challenge there are some regulations you will need to meet in order to enter the competition. This guide will tell you everything you need to know. You will be working towards the day when you get to race your boat against boats from other schools. At the competition there will be schools from around the state competing. You will be cheering for your school with teachers, others students and family. You will see on that day how many different designs and materials are used to make the model solar boats.

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Some Common Questions Answered

Q: Which event in the Solar Boat Challenge do we enter? A: If you are a team of secondary students you can only go in Division one. It should be noted that only secondary students from the first two years of secondary school can enter. Otherwise you need to look at the Solar Model Car Challenge. If you are in primary school you have two choices. Your team can enter Division two using the only one motor and no vacuum forming fibre glassing, or you can go in Division one with students in the first two years of secondary school. Q: Can we enter after the due date? A; Yes you can enter after the due date but the entry fee more than doubles!! It is better to get your entry in on time. Check with your teacher what the due date for entries is and fill in the record book on the next page. Q: Can we use an old boat or other boat parts or a boat kit? A: No you cannot use an old or new boat hull or kit that could have been bought in a shop. It is part of the competition that you design and make your own boat from the start. You will have to show how you did this as part of the competition. Q: How much help can we have? A: It depends on what the help is for. Through building a boat you are likely to learn new skills and improve skills you already have. It is fine for other people to teach you new skills so that you and your ream members can use these skills in the construction of your boat.

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If you completely design something but are not allowed to use the machinery to make it then it is usually OK to get someone else to use the machinery for you. All people who help you (advisers) must be listed in the reference section of your poster. It is not OK for someone else to start taking over the design or construction of your boat. Beware especially of teachers and parents doing this! It is important that you are able to learn in your team how to design and construct a model boat it is up to you to politely ask enthusiastic people that arent part of your team to help in other ways such as showing you how to use equipment. Tell them to read this part of the guide so that they know how they can and cannot help you. Q: What are the awards in the competition? A: There are awards for First. Second and Third places in the races on the day of the competition. Also there are awards for Best Use of Materials, Most Innovative Design, Best Team Uniform and Best Posters.

Figure 1 Solar powered bottle boat

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Forming a Team
The very first thing to do will be to find someone to supervise your group. If the Solar Model Boat is done as part of a class subject, extra school program or community group then you already have a supervisor! Your supervisor will put your entry in for you. Note the due date below. The next thing to do is to form a team with other students. You need to have at least two people. Fill in the spaces below with the names of your team members. Also fill in the details of the date you will be racing and where the race will be held. Your supervisor should be able to provide these details or they will be on a notice you have been given. Also you need to decide on a boat name with your group. This is a good time to be creative and work as a team to come up with a name.

Due date for entry:

___________________________________________________________________ after that you can have as many as you want.

Team members There needs to be at least 2 people in your team, however

1- _________________________________ 2 - ______________________________ 3- _________________________________ 4 - ______________________________ 5- _________________________________ 6 - ______________________________

Boat name
_____________________________________________________________________

Solar cell maximum active area - 350cm 2

_____________________________________________________________________

The day and date of the race

_____________________________________________________________________

The location of the race

_____________________________________________________________________

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Getting Organised
It is really important to organise who will do what task and by when. This will make sure you have a great boat ready on race day and avoid last minute rushing. Discuss in your group who will be doing each of the tasks below. Each task has a description below it to show you what to do. Write down against each of the tasks and who will be doing it. The time-line is extremely important and needs to be done first. Have a look at the picture of a time-line. Your supervisor will be able to assist you with this if you have any difficulty. Also you should decide early on who will be your teams coordinator. This is the person who will be making sure each person has done his or her task. Time-line Name __________________________________________________ Task Draw up a time line that goes from now until the race day using the example that follows. You need to allow enough time to get everything done. Start from the finish date and work backwards when making the time-line.

Figure 2 Sample Time Line

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You want to end up with a working solar-powered model boat that your team has designed and built with all the necessary records required by the competition. The following list can be used as the main headings on the time-line. Within each heading will need to be recorded all the activities that will need to be done to complete the task. For example, the task for Investigate is to Read the section that follows on investigation and keep a record of what was done and any references or helpers used. The activities will include reading the section and may include visiting the library, surfing the net and asking questions of your teacher to find out more information. You will need to allow enough time for every activity when putting tasks on the time-line. Against each task you need to put a name. This is the name of the person on your team that will be responsible for the task. For many of the tasks the person will need to report back to the team on what was learnt. For example, the person who does the Investigate task will need to report back to the team what he or she has learnt. In this way not everyone has to do every job, but everyone does get to learn all the different parts. Coordinator - Name ________________________________________________ Task Use the time-line to make sure the group is up to date. This is an on-going task for the entire project. Reading official rules/guidelines Name _______________________________ Task - Know the boat and poster rules well and keep up to date with any changes. You will need to check the newsletters/website to find out any changes. Investigate - Name __________________________________________________ Task - Read the section that follows on Investigate and keep a record of what was done. It is important to list any references or helpers used. Design Name ____________________________________________________ Task - Read the section that follows on Design and keep a record of what was done and any references or helpers used. Construct Name _________________________________________________ Task - Read the section that follows on Construct and keep a record of what was done and any references or helpers used. Testing Name ____________________________________________________ Task - Read the section that follows on Testing and keep a record of what was done and any references or helpers used. Modifying - Name ___________________________________________________ Task - Read the section that follows on Modifying and keep a record of what was done and any references or helpers used. Poster - Name _______________________________________________________ Task - Read the section that follows on posters and collect all records of what was done and any references or helpers used. Take some photographs at different stages.

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These will make your poster more interesting and show how you went about making your boat. Getting motor, solar cells, propeller and shaft Name ____________________ Task - Read the section that follows in Construct about possible sources of materials and check the relevant Internet sites listed later. Getting hull materials for the boat - Name _______________________________ Task - Read the section that follows in Construct about possible sources of materials. Budgeting, sponsorship - Name ________________________________________ Task - Read the section that follows in Construct about possible sources of materials and add up the cost of all parts and race entry. Decide whether the costs are going to be shared equally between team members or whether there will be an approach for sponsorship. Before you approach anyone for sponsorship you will need to be able to show what benefits they will get through publicity (see next task Gaining publicity). Gaining publicity - Name _____________________________________________ Task - Read the section from the organising committee about Publicity and coordinate any activities your team decides on. When the team has completed the tasks above the coordinator should encourage members to follow the time-line.

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The Technology Process

The technology process is how you will end up with a working solar-powered model boat. The process involves: Investigating what type of boat you are going to make and what you are going to make it out of. Developing a design (plans). Constructing (making) the boat. Testing the boat. Modifying (changing your boat to make it better). Teams that dont do well usually leave out every stage except for construction!

1 Investigate
Everyone in the team needs to read this information, even though they are have not been assigned the task. This is because as a team you will need to investigate what type of boat you are going to make and what you are going to make it out of. This is a very important part of the process and needs to be done before you design your boat. Below is some information on what solar cells are, how they were developed, what they are used for and how they work. There are also some suggestions on how to find out more information.

1.1 Useful information

Q: What is a solar cell? A: A solar cell is something that can change light into electricity. Q: How long have solar cells been around? A: In 1839 when he was only 19 years old French physicist Edmund Becquerel first wrote about the photovoltaic (PV) effect. The PV effect is the making of electricity from light. In the 1950s the first useful crystalline silicon cells were made. The earliest PV cells converted 1-2% of the solar energy available into electric energy. Current cells commonly operate at between 7 and 17% and they are far cheaper than before. Q: What are solar cells used for? A: The solar electricity made by the solar cells is used to power: Lights on the side of some freeways Boats to charge their batteries Houses in remote locations Portable radios Navigational buoys General lighting Artificial satellites Hubble telescope Space station/s Calculators Watches

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Water pumping Battery rechargers Emergency telephones Emergency power supplies after a disaster And many other things

Q: How does a solar cell work? A: (short) If its sunny your boat works beautifully hut if its really cloudy your boat looks like it has been glued to the start line. This is because the solar cell converts the Suns energy into electricity to power your boat. When its cloudy there is not as much energy from the Sun to collect and there is not as much electricity to power your boat. A: (medium) The Sun is basically a very big ball of gas (well two gases actually hydrogen and helium). It is 100 times wider than the Earth! There are nuclear reactions happening in it all the time and they give off energy. The energy is the sort that gives us daylight, heat and sunburn (ouch!). On a clear day about 80% of the solar radiation (energy from the Sun) that hits the Earths atmosphere gets down to us on the surface of the planet. The solar radiation causes wind and lots of other things. Plants can actually trap some of this energy and change it to food (photosynthesis). People have trapped solar energy for a variety of uses such as taking the salt out of water, heating water and making electricity. There is more than one way of getting the Sun to make electricity for us, but for the model boats we use photovoltaic (PV or solar) cells. Solar cells are usually made from silicon, which can absorb energy (photons) from sunlight and release electrons. The flow of electrons makes electricity. In this way solar cells are able to convert the energy of the sun into electricity. Usually solar cells are connected to each other electrically and then covered by glass or plastic. If you join a few cells together you get a solar panel. This is what your team will use to power your model boat. Usually the more efficient and expensive solar cells can change more of the Suns energy into electricity. In most uses the solar panel is connected to a storage system (batteries) so that power can be used when the sun is not shining. We dont do that for the model boats though. You can find out more information from your supervisor or some of the references listed next. Q: What is an electric circuit? A: In a torch there is a source of electricity (the battery) then a wire to the light globe. From the globe a wire goes to a switch then back to the battery. Because it starts and finishes in one place it is called a circuit (an electric circuit). When it is switched off there is a gap in the circuit at the switch: this is called an open circuit. When it is switched on there is no gap in the circuit at the switch; this is called a closed circuit. The boat has a similar circuit except that instead of the light globe there is a motor and instead of the battery there is a solar panel. Q: What do we need to know about materials to constructing the boat? A: The materials you use to build your boat need to be checked for buoyancy (how well they float), weight and waterproofing. The materials need to float well, be light (dont weigh much) and be waterproof. Adhesives (glues and other sticky things) will

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need to be checked to see that they are waterproof and that they work on the materials your group has chosen. Q: What sorts of boat types could we research? A: Jet boats Off shore power boats Speed boats Catamarans Trimarans Yachts Sprint kayaks Hydrofoil boats Paddle boats

1.2 References and useful sources of information

Q: Where can we find out extra information? A: Advisers: People such as teachers, parents, relatives and friends not on your team could provide useful information and should be listed below. Boat shops: You may get ideas from looking at boats or you may even be able to get pamphlets that contain pictures/plans for a boat type that you would like to build. A model boat can be a small version of a real boat type. Books and magazines: A very useful book is Make it Work-Ships written by Andrew Solway and published by Franklin Watts. Reference books like Encyclopaedias and How it Works are good starting points. Go to the index and try to find names from the boat types list. *Most large newsagents have a wide variety of boating and model making/hobby magazines that can be helpful. CD ROM: Encarta, How it works, Grolliers, Britannica and so on. They all contain useful information. Hobby/model shops: These often sell model racing boat kits and the pictures on the boxes may give you ideas. Internet sites: A good way to find useful sites is to enter names from the boat types list. Some sites have pictures and/or plans. These can be printed then enlarged on a photocopier. But remember just because a design works well on a large boat with a powerful motor does not mean it will work on a solar-powered model boat. There are many more sites than the ones listed below, but these are a useful starting point and they have many links.

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http://www.modelsolarcar.org/ http://www.modelsolar-vic.net.au http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~ddtcw/ http://www.greathobbies.com/links/links/rcb.html http://www.marinesource.com/ http://www.aciua.net.au/ad24bas.htm http://www.yachtsales.com/yclubs/au.html http://www.bartswatersports.com/catalog.asp?C=223 http://lancet.mit.edu/decavitator/ http://www.foils.org/ http://www.qreatlakescats.com/imaqes/trawler1.jpq http://windride.com/ http://www.skyski.com/home.ht http://www.australpropeller.com.au/ http://www.solas.com.au/propellers.html http://www.tallstacks.com/photogallerv.html List the references that were useful To do this properly read the section References including advisers. _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

Figure 3 Model Trimaran

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2 Design
You can draw your designs by hand or by using a computer. Keep copies of all your drafts. Before you do a final copy, read the relevant section (plans/drawings) under Poster Judging.

Computers are now commonly used in the design of things such as houses, aeroplanes, toasters and boats. Some of these computer programs can now he found in some schools and homes. Once you have mastered the basics you can draw very accurate plans. A good starting point is to use Microsoft Paint. Q: What is CAD? A: CAD stands for Computer Aided Design Initial sketches

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Scale plans If you multiply all the measurements of the plans you do below by three, you will have the actual measurements needed to make your boat. Your drawings are at a scale of 1:3. Top view

Side view

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Front view

3D view

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3 Construct
***Read all of this section before beginning***

3.1 Safety
Burns can occur with the use of the hot glue gun and the soldering iron. Vapours are produced by using the hot glue gun and the soldering iron. These need to be used in a well-ventilated area. Aprons/dustcoats should be worn in the workshop and hands must be washed before eating or drinking. Safety glasses may need to be worn. Make sure long hair, loose clothing and jewellery are restrained. Dust from wood or foam can cause irritation to the eyes due to abrasion and can cause respiratory irritation with prolonged exposure. An extraction system (it sucks the dust away should be used when machine sanding. Students should never throw dust on each other. Hand sanding or sawing should be done in a well-ventilated area. An extraction system could be used, dust masks could be used or the tasks could be done outside. Safety data on any building material should be available from the supplier.

3.2 How to make a model solar boat badly

1. Rush the project. Start as close to the race day as possible. 2. Dont draw plans and especially dont look in boat books, magazines or the Internet for ideas. 3. Select heavy hard to work materials. 4. Dont check the size regulations so that on race day you have to re-build your boat to fit. 5. Make sure the front of the boat pushes as much water and air as possible. 6. Dont smooth surfaces to reduce friction. 7. Make sure that the join between the propeller shaft and the motor is loose and that they are not in a straight line. 8. Dont mount the motor and propeller shaft firmly.

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9. Dont lubricate the propeller shaft. 10. Have guide wires that rub on the fishing line. 11. Dont test and modify your boat prior to race day.

3.3 Building a very fast boat

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. ***Do the opposite of everything above *** Choose lightweight and smooth materials. Choose water resistant materials and test whether painting the hull or changing its shape improves your boats performance Make 2 boats and lest them against each other. ***Beware - oil based paints destroy foam!*** Try to reduce wind resistance. Boats can he buffeted by strong winds from the front and the sides which slows the boat down. The lower and more aerodynamic the profile the better. Improve your boats tracking. Test the boat without guides to see how straight it will go. If it steers in a curve a lot of energy will be lost rubbing with the guide wires. Guide wires Some boats are slowed down or even stoped by poorly fitted or loose guide wires. Shaft Lubricant or even bearings may help [he propeller to spin more freely (before the motor is connected you should be able to blow on the propeller and get it to spin freely). Sometimes the holes in the propeller shaft need to be drilled to a slightly larger size. Motor connections The motor can be joined to the shaft by using a piece of one of the following items; heat shrink wrap, wire insulation, juice pack straws, Chuppa Chup sticks, brass tube etc. Testing Do as much testing against other boats as possible in a variety of Light/wind conditions to select the best propeller angles, sizes and styles. Thought could be given to adjusting the angle of the solar panels to collect more light (remember that the boats must be able to race North South or South - North.)

7. 8.

3.4 Building a boat

If you have never built a boat before it is good to build a simple boat that works before you build a more competitive boat. Things you will/may need Motor, insulated wire, a solar panel (or an AA battery will do as a power source for testing), an on/off switch, a propeller and shaft and materials for the hull. Equipment you will/may need Soldering iron and solder Saw Stanley knife Hot glue gun and glue sticks Glue Electrical tape Sandpaper Pliers

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Pencil/texta Old newspapers to work on.

How to use equipment For any tools /equipment that you have not used before you should get instruction on their safe use. You may need to book times when you can get supervision to use equipment.

3.5 Possible sources of materials

Motor Dick Smith, Tandy etc 1.5-volt motors that cost approximately $2. Any suitable motor may be used. Division 2 entries can use only one motor. More expensive motors eg Erni do not necessarily make the boat go faster, although they may be an advantage in low light. Erni - 12 Monomeeth Drive, Mitcham, Vic 3132 Ph 1800 033 460 Fax 1800 817 651 2/57 Belmore St Penrith NSW 2750 Ph 4731 3733 Fax 4731 1132 email sales@erni.com.au Internet www.erni.com.au Propellers and shafts - The price varies from about $8 to about $40. The price is not a good guide to how well they will perform with only limited power available. Generally, the lighter the better. If spare propellers are available it can be helpful to have a variety of sizes to test. You can also build your own shaft from brass tube and brass rod. Brands such as Radio-active and Aeroflvte can work well. Suppliers Victoria Metropolitan Model and Hobby Centre -424 Station St Box Hill. 3128 Ph 98901 144 Victorian Hobby Centre - 1st floor 21a Swanston St. MeIb, 3000. Ph 9650 4817 Hearns Hobbies - 295 Flinders St Melbourne, 300() Ph 9629 [425 Hobby Place - 280 282 Lonsdale St (Opp. Myer) Melbourne. 3000 Ph 9663 4407 (mail orders taken) Werribee Hobby Centre - 6 Watton St, Werribee 3030, Ph 9742 4844 Rogers Radio Control Repairs 25 West Fyans St. Gee long 3220 Ph 5222 5085 Fax 5224 2064 Shepparton Toyworld 13-15 Fraser St. Shepparton 3660 Ph 5831 2875 Fax583l 2319 Ballarat Model World 422 Sturt St. Ballarat, 3350 Ph 53311642 Fax 5332 4934 Scorpio Technology - 17 Inverell Ave. Mt. Waverley Vic, 3149 Ph: 03 9802 9913, Fax: 0398878158 www.scorpiotehnoIoay,com.au South Australia Max Models - 491 Port Rush Rd. Glenunga. 5064, Ph/Fax (08) 8338 2638 Model Flight, 42 Maple Ave., Keswick/Forestville 5035 Ph (08) 8293 3674 Fax 8371 0659 S.A. , NSW + Qld Technology Education Centre 32a Dew St, Thebarton, 5031. ***Majl order anywhere in Aust. (2-4 days) Ph (08) 8354 4000 Fax (08) 8354 4088, E-mail. teched@adelaide.on.net Internet http://www.teched.cc/

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Guide wires Coat hanger wire is most commonly used. Solar panels Note- The rules for panels may vary between states/territories. Entrants can use any cells that fit within the area given in the rules. I have found through testing on boats that some small light cells perform as well as more powerful and heavier cells. When comparing cells you also need to be aware of their power and weight. Wiring the cells in series (positive wires joined to negative wires) or parallel (all the negative wires together and all the positive wires together) can affect the performance of the boat significantly. Both methods could be tested in different light levels. The hull The hull of the boat could be made from a wide variety of materials; wood, balsa wood. PET bottles, polystyrene foam, urethane foam, metal, vacuum formed plastic, milk cartons, card painted with varnish, old surfboards/ boogie boards etc. Vacuum forming or thermoforming shapes thin sheets of plastic (eg acrylic, compressed polystyrene) over a mould by using heat, vacuum and pressure. Many secondary schools now have a vacuum former in the technology department or some teams approach companies that do vacuum forming to form the plastic over a mould that they have made. Vacuum forming involves four steps. First a mould of the boat hull is built out of wood, plaster, aluminium or cast epoxy resin (holes may need to be placed in the mould to allow the vacuum to work properly). The mould is then placed into the vacuum former with a sheet of plastic above it which is then softened by heat. Next the mould is pushed into the softened plastic and lastly a vacuum is used to draw the plastic over the mould. First check what the largest size of mould the vacuum former can take. Avoid undercuts on your mould or you wont be able to get the plastic of your mould. Try not to have the hulls much deeper than they are wide because the plastic tends to become weak. Ribbing can add strength. Trim the plastic with scissors or a sharp knife. Suppliers Balsa wood Hobby shops and hardware stores. Polystyrene foam Product packaging. Broccoli boxes from fruit and vegetable stores, Builders etc Look up plastics in the Yellow Pages Joining - Usually done using a hot glue gun (small hot glue guns are better because they dont tend to melt foam as much), super glue, and solder (lead free). Joins that dont need to be as strong are sometimes held with Velcro spots (from haberdashery stores), electrical insulation tape, double-sided tape, duct tape etc. These can be obtained from most hardware/hobby stores. Guides If the guides are flimsy they can bend and slow the boat, if the boat is racing in a strong wind. The guide wire is 300mm above the water, not 300mm above the boat. If the guides do not allow for enough movement of the boat up and down due to wind and waves the boat can come off the guide wire and end up going in circles. If the Page 18

guides are too short they can stop the boat moving altogether due to friction on the wire / line.

Figure 4 Guide Ideas

What is your boat made out of?

_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

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How did you make your boat?

_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

To avoid waste cut what you need from the side or the end of your material

4 Testing / Modify
Test the boat in an area of still water that is safe and supervised. Although the race pond is 10 metres long, some effective testing can be done in a pool (or even bathtub) of only 1 .5m long. If light conditions are poor an AA battery can be used instead of a solar panel. Even very bright lights held very close to the solar panel usually dont provide as much energy as the sun on a dull day.

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4.1 Standard testing

Test 1 When the boat with panel is placed in the water does it float level with the propeller under the water? Yes / No What was the problem and how was it solved? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Test 2 Will the propeller turn in the air when the boat is held in sunlight? Yes I No What was the problem and how was it solved? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Test 3 Will the propeller turn when the boat is placed in water? Yes / No What was the problem and how was it solved? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Test 4 Will the boat go in a straight line without using the guideline? Yes / No What was the problem and how was it solved? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Test 5With fishing line suspended 30cm above the water to act as a guide will the boat travel along the guideline smoothly? Yes / No What was the problem and how was it solved? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

4.2 Advanced testing

These tests are best done with 2 boats that are only different in one way. Use a full 10m course with 2 guide lines so that boats can race at the same time under the same conditions (see the notes on how to set up an advanced testing course). The following list is in no particular order and tests can be combined. You may be able to think of many other tests. Keep an accurate record of your results. Page 21

Test 1 Test the boat in a variety of wind conditions (front, side etc). Test 2 Test the boat with a variety of propellers. Test 3 Test the boat with the panel at different angles. Test 4 Test different surfaces (paints etc) on the boat hull. Test 5 Test different propeller angles and depths. Test 6--- Test different motors. Test 7 Test different hull shapes. Test 8 Test the boat under a variety of light conditions. The amount of light can be measured by using a light meter. These are often available from secondary school science or photography departments.

4.3 Trouble shooting

Propeller not working Jiggle the wires to see if there is a loose connection. Test the motor by itself to see if it is working. Enlarge the holes in the propeller shaft slightly (often they are a hit tight because they are made for boats with much more powerful motors). Lubricate the propeller shaft. Connection from shaft to motor not straight. Boat going backwards Check the positive (+) wire from the panel/s goes to the positive (+) tag on the motor. Just swapping the connections will solve this. Boat not travelling straight Weight not evenly spread. Hull of boat not symmetrical or parallel. Re-read the sections on how to build a solar boat badly and how to build a very fast boat.

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Figure 5 Common Problems

5 Before the Race

5.1 Scrutineering
You will need to demonstrate that your model boat meets the race rules on the day of the race. Make sure you have a pen with you as there is always some kind of form to fill out. Size Your boat will have to fit inside a wooden frame 550mm long and 300mm wide. If it is too big you will have to go away and cut bits off (the boat, not you!) until it fits. Best to check accurately beforehand. Guides Your boat will be sat in something that looks like a babies bath with a pole sticking up at each end. Between the poles will be strung some fishing line 300mm above the water. Your guides can be taller, but not shorter. Switch Be able to show that your boat has a working on/off switch. Poster Have your laminated/contacted poster clearly labelled with your names, your boat name and your school name. (Posters that have been drawn in the car on the way to the race and that are still sticky from wet glue dont tend to impress the judges.) Solar cells - Entrants must be able to prove (showing measurements and area calculations) that their cells fit within the set area. Batteries No batteries are allowed.

5.2 Poster judging

Your poster will be judged against the following sections. Heading readable at 5 metres 5 Marks Use large clear (colourful?) heading. Writing readable at 2 metres 5 Marks Make sure your writing is neat and that if you use a computer that the font is at least 14 point. Your boat name, school name and your names should he listed. You should also cover the level of each students involvement, the groups planning, time use, effort and cooperation. At least 2 diagrams 1 photos 5 Marks

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It is good to show pictures that show the development/testing of your boat. References including advisers- 5 Marks This can be done in smaller print and must be included on the front of the poster. The simple way is to write down the name of anything (books etc) and anyone that helped you. What follows below is the best method for listing references. Preparing a bibliography All references should be placed in alphabetical order. Advisers The name/s of any adviser/s and how they helped you. Books etc The author/editor (last name, first name), year of publication (in brackets), title (underlined), publisher, place of publication and page numbers. CD-ROM Title. year of publication (in brackets), CD-ROM (in brackets), publisher and place of publication. Internet Title, Online (in brackets), date retrieved via the Internet and address (URL). Description of testing 5 Marks This may be combined with your pictures and should explain how your testing was done and what the results were. Plans / drawings 5 Marks The best plans/drawing will have a title (top view, side view etc), labels (names of the parts) and a scale (1:10 etc). Overall presentation 5 Marks Make sure the poster is well presented the correct size (A2 420 x 594mm) and that it is laminated or contacted. Remember, if your poster wins a prize the committee can keep it.

5.3 What to bring on race day

You dont want to spoil all of your hard work on the race day by having a simple part break and not be able to repair it. There is usually access to power close to the race location. Pencil Spare wire Super glue Hot glue gun Soldering iron and solder Stanley knife Extension lead Tape Spare propeller Pliers Food Drink Hats Sun-screen Box to store your boat in Spare materials of the type that you made your boat out of. Any forms you may have to hand in Tickets/name tags if needed

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5.4 What to do on race day

Take your boat and poster to scrutineering first. If you have enough team members some people should go ahead and find a good area to sit. After scrutineering you may be able to do some final testing in the race pond or the test pond. Organise who will be starting the boat and who will be collecting it from the finish line. Read through the race order and circle your races.

Good luck and dont forget to have fun.

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Supervisors Section
These notes were originally prepared for use with a group of approximately 30 students from P 6 at Yarraville West Primary School in Melbourne and have been substantially modified since.

Preparation
Decide how much time you can put into this project. Will it be done during or outside class-time? Where will students work? Is there any equipment needed? See P17, 18. Promote the competition within the school/organisation and restrict numbers to what you can cope with (1 or 2 teams is a good starting point). Get a list of interested students Give out parent/guardian information letters. See the samples that follow. Send off a school entry and if necessary order solar cells (P 9). Record student names and if their parent/guardians can assist.

Getting started
Using the students guide go through the introduction taking special note of the importance of cooperation and persistence in improving teams performance. (P 13) Have students fill in their names and their boat name (Page 4). Record the names of the students in each team. Give students the panel dimensions, the race day, the race date and the race location. This information is available from the state organising committee (see the back of the guide for details). Teams can then allocate the responsibility for making sure all tasks are completed on time (Pages 5-7). All students will need to take on more than one task. * Emphasise that having a students name next to the task does not necessarily mean that they have to do all of it. but they need to make sure that it is done on time. Review the technology process (Page 8 - 10). Students are now ready to investigate their sections. Discuss with the students when this will be done by.

Investigation, design and construction

All the tasks need to be put on their time-line. Check teams allow enough time for investigation, design, testing, modification and the poster. Teams usually rush into construction. Students may need guidance with research, plans and buying parts. Demonstrations on how to safely use soldering irons, Stanley knives, hot glue guns saws etc will need to he given. (in through the relevant section of this guide (Pages 16- 19). If the students are too young they may need appropriate assistance. Encourage students to till out sections of the student guide as tasks are completed. This will make completing the poster much easier. If students intend to make their boat out of foam, balsa, etc, have them make a template out of paper. Fold it in half lengthwise to he sure it is symmetrical. This step saves a lot of time and reduces the waste of materials. Page 26

Discuss water safety with students prior to doing any testing. Students work through their guide and your role from here on is to provide appropriate assistance when required.

Useful references Internet

Australian Model Solar Vehicle Competition http://www.modelsolarcar.ora/ This has links to all other state/territory sites. Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society http://www.anzses.org/ The American Solar Energy Society http://www.ases.org/solar International Solar Energy Society http://www.ises.orci/ U.S. Department of Energy http://www.eren.doe.gov/pv/pvmenu.cgi?site=pv&idx=1&body=aboutpv.html This is a very useful site. It contains information for students and can test students on their knowledge. Supervisors can down-load the facts and the all-important answers! There are lots of pictures and topic headings include; learning about photovoltaics (PV), turning sunlight into electricity, why use PV, solar cell materials, applications and uses. http://www.sun-mate.com/ http://www.plastecs.com/ http://www.towards-sustainability.co.uk/infodir/enerav/solar.html

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Materials safety information

**Materials safety data sheets should be available from the supplier** **provide a place for students to wash after using materials** **l1 the activity produces dust students should wear dust masks and safety glasses** Flammability - Foams and plastics can be highly flammable, produce toxic smoke and can stick to skin and clothing (molten plastic can cause severe thermal burns. Cool rapidly with water and seek medical attention. Do not pull the skin off). Encourage students to do all soldering away from these materials. Fine dust in the air from foam or even wood can in some circumstances form an explosive mixture. Dust should be kept to a minimum by using an extraction system or a well-ventilated area and open flames should be kept away. A vacuum cleaner is useful for tidying up. Polystyrene This material has been around for about 50 years. According to the criteria of Worksafe Australia it is non-hazardous. Swallowing of the pellets does not present any known health hazard. It may cause eye irritation (flush the eye with water to wash out any particles). There are no known acute skin problems. The dust may cause mechanical irritation. Polystyrene Australia Pty Ltd provided most of the information above. For more information Ph 03 93174077 or use their website www.psa.com.au Rigid polyurethane foam This is commonly used in surfboards. The safety issues are similar to polystyrene, but it is more abrasive to the skin, eyes and digestive system. This information was obtained from NOV10 (Vic) Pty Ltd. For more information - Ph 03 9687 7500, Fax 03 9687 7399. ***lnformation on a wide variety of synthetic materials can be obtained from PACIA (Plastics and Chemical Institute of Australia), Level 4, 380 St Kilda Rd. Melbourne, Ph 03 9699 6299, Fax 030699 6717 http://www.pacia.org.au/index.htinl

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Sample Information letters that could be modified to suit

YEAR 7 ENRICHMENT The Model Solar Boat Challenge The challenge - Students will have the opportunity to work in teams of 2 4+ to design and build one or more working model solar powered boats for entry in Division ___ of the State/Territory Championships to be held at _________________ later this year. The boat - The boats are powered by a small solar panel that is connected to a switch, motor and propeller. The boats are usually made from polystyrene foam, P.E.T. bottles and other lightweight cheap materials. The boat is about 550mm long and 300mm wide. Skills and experience needed None, even if you have never made anything like this before you will easily be able to build a working boat The solar race placings have been filled by all girls teams, all boys teams and by mixed teams. The cost- To build one boat excluding a solar panel is approximately $ eg ($ ___ each for a team of 4 students). If students want to enter their boat into the State Championships in Term ___ there is an additional cost of $ per team. MODEL SOLAR BOAT CHALLENGE NEWS Your child has received information about the race rules and regulations and has seen the solar panel to be used for the race. Further details can be obtained from the internet site __________________________ The students will need to work in small teams and they will need to keep a record of their progress (notes, plans, sketches, photos etc) for their logbook and poster. The entry cost per team is $____ and this includes entry to ____________ There are usually about four students in a team but there can be more or less. If any team would like to work at the ____________ on _________________________ ___________________ will be available to support the students from _________ to _________. Optional student guides can be purchased for $____. Students will need to bring materials for the construction of the boats (PET bottles, polystyrene foam etc). Any hot glue guns that could be provided would be useful. If you want to know more details about the safety issues I can be contacted on _____________________ phone/fax. The slip below needs to be returned to _______________________ ASAP Race coordinator My child (print) _____________________ will be attending the model solar boat session at -________________________ on __________ from _______ _______ Signature _________________ Name (Print) Contact phone number I will / will not be able to assist. No particular skills are needed, just a willingness to support your child.

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How To Make A Portable Test Pond for Model Solar Boats.

What follows is a description of a test pond I made for Yarraville West P.S. I used pieces of pine, hardwood and oregon left over from renovations. The length width and depth of the pond could be adjusted depending on what timber you have available (as long as the boats still fit). The other materials came from a hardware/garden supplies store. I got some grade three students to set up the pond about half an hour before the finish of school so it was ready for use after school (it takes a while to fill). It takes about five minutes to pack up. The ideal location to set up the pond is a firm area which water will easily run off, that is near a hose and that is not shaded.

Materials
- Timber 300mm x 50mm x 3000 4000 mm x 2 (sides) - Timber 300mm x 50mm x 600mm x 2 (ends) - Timber 90mm x 50mm x 300mm x 4 (stops) - Timber 90mm x 50mm x 1050mm x 2 (braces) - 150mm right angle metal brackets x 4 - 90mm galvanised screws x 8 - 25mm galvanised screws (enough for one side of each bracket) - 25mm pipe or rod x 380mm x 2 (for guide wire) - Black plastic at least 1200mm wide and at least 1500 mm longer than the sides of the tank (liner)

Method
1. Make sure the sides are equal lengths and use the 90mm screws to attach the stops to each end of the sides.

2. Stand the sides up with the stops facing each other and insert the ends to form a rectangle.

3. Lay the braces across each end attach one side of a right angle metal bracket to each end of the braces as shown below.

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4. The braces can now be slid over the top of each end of the tank to hold the sides in.

5. Drill a hole slightly wider than the pipe in the centre (top) of the brace to about three-quarters of the depth of the timber and stand a length of pipe in it.

6. Remove the braces, line the pond with plastic, replace the braces, attach the guide wire and fill the pond.

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Setting up an advanced testing course

Materials needed
Timber 2 pieces of 100mm x 50mm x approx 1200mm. Dowel or metal rod of 1200mm (cut into 4 x 300mm pieces). Several bricks or other heavy objects.

Method
1. Drill holes of the same thickness as your dowel/rod about 40mm deep into the timber. The holes need to be placed about 50mm in from each end on thel00mm wide surface. 2. Place the dowel/rod into the holes. 3. Place the finished pieces at either end of the swimming pool/pond with the dowel/rod pointing upwards and place a weight on each one to keep it stable. 4. Tie fishing line from the dowel/rod at one end to the dowel/rod at the other end making sure to keep the 2 lines parallel. 5. Adjust the lines by moving them up or down the dowel/rods so that they are always 300mm above the water.

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Links to the CSF

The curriculum standards framework (CSF) is Victorian based and is adapted from the National Statements and Profiles. It is made up of eight Key Learning Areas (KLAs). The Model Solar Boat Challenge can be used to cover key sections of the Science, Technology and Studies of Society and the Environment (SOSE) KLAs. Some aspects can also be incorporated into other KLAs. Teachers have used the Model Solar Boat Challenge in some of the following ways Part of a gifted and talented students program A lunch-time activity A science unit A technology unit An integrated unit Community organizations such as cubs, scouts, guides etc have used the Model Solar Boat Challenge to assist children to obtain certain badges.

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