"What is Bouyancy" is a PowerPoint that provides an explanation of the principles related to buoyancy and boat construction for primary and secondary students. This lesson can be paired with a "Penny Boat" activity.

1. Buoyancy
Roads, Rails and Race cars

2. What Forces act on a Boat?
Gravity
Buoyancy

3. Buoyancy Definition
• The force on a body that allows it to float or to
rise when submerged in a fluid
• The buoyant force exerted on an object by a
fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid the
object displaced

4. Fun Tips
• Buoyancy always acts through the center of
the volume of the object displacing the fluid
• The center of mass of the boat should be well
below the center of submerged volume of the
boat to prevent the boat from tipping
– This can be demonstrated with a tall bobber and a
weight. If the weight is mounted on the top of the
bobber, the bobber will tip upside down. If it is
mounted on the bottom, it will stay upright.

6. Videos
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh5xu35bA
xA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSGeskF
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7. Activity – Penny Boats
• Construct your penny boat using only one
piece of the heavy duty aluminum foil
provided
• Predict how many pennies your boat will hold:
_______
• Slowly add pennies to your boat. Once water
enters the boat, or if any part of the boat
touches the bottom of the container, your turn
is over
• The last penny added will not count in the
total amount held