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Cub Scout Adventures >

Webelos >

Boat Friction

Webelos – 4th Grade

Race Time Webelos

Elective

Requirement 3

Boat Friction

Webelos – 4th Grade

Race Time Webelos

Elective

Requirement 3

Boat Friction

Snapshot of Activity

Cub Scouts learn how friction impacts their boat.

Indoor

If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.

Supply List

Boat Friction Observation worksheet found in Additional Resources
Printer
Pencils, one per Cub Scout
Raingutter Regatta™ Inflatable Raceway (SKU 612687)
3 –Raingutter Regatta™ boat kits(SKU 612513)
Screwdriver
Wood glue
3” x 3” piece of 220 grit sandpaper
3″ x 3″piecee of felt
High gloss spray paint any color
Straws, one for each Cub Scout
Stopwatch

Directions

Before the meeting:

Build the Raingutter Regatta™ boats, each with a different surface on the underside: sandpaper, glossy paint, and felt.
Set up meeting space with the inflatable Raingutter Regatta™ Racetrack.
Print a copy of the Boat Friction Observation worksheet for each Cub Scout.

During the meeting:

Explain that Cub Scouts will be exploring how different surfaces on the bottom of the boat affect the speed of the boat.
Explain what force is. “In physics, a force is what causes the motion of an object to change its speed. If you take a ball and place it on the floor, it may roll around for a while, but eventually, it will stay in one place. If
the wind blows, the ball will move. The wind is the force causing the ball to move. If you kick the ball, your foot provides the force causing the ball to move.
Explain what friction is. “Friction is a type of force. When a force is applied to something that is moving one way and the force is going another way, it is called friction. Let’s use the ball as our example. When you kicked the ball, the ball had to move through the air which caused friction, slowing down the ball. The surface that the ball is rolling on also causes friction. The ball will roll loner on a smooth surface compared to rolling on a grassy field. Have the Cub Scouts buddy up with a car and place them at a station. They will roll their car across the three different types of surfaces and record their results.
Explain that each Cub Scout will get a turn to blow each boat across the track.
Give a pencil and a Boat Friction Observation worksheet to each Cub Scout.
Allow each Cub Scout to blow each type of boat across the tub of water, recording their time with the stopwatch from the starting line to the finish line.
After each Cub Scout has a turn gather them together, and ask the following questions:
- Which boat went the fastest?
- Why do you think it went the slowest with the felt on the bottom? What got in the way?
- How can we apply this concept to your boat for the upcoming race?