As Zoober’s robot designer, I have a special way to present my new robot creations to the other employees of Zoober Labs. I place them on tiny glideabouts that zoom through the offices. The robots are delighted to travel this way. After all, what could be more comfortable than riding on a cushion of air?
In this experiment, you’ll learn how to build a miniature hovercraft just like the kind I make for my pet robots.
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SAFETY KID SAYS: “Anytime you use a glue gun, as this experiment requires, make sure a grown-up is around to help!” |
Materials
Sport-top cap from a water bottle
Unwanted LP record or CD
Large balloon
Tools
Hot-glue gun with glue cartridges (see Sources, page 76)
1 Place the bottle cap over the hole of the LP or CD and attach it by squeezing a line (or “bead”) of hot glue all the way around the perimeter of the cap. Make sure not to leave any gaps where air can escape. Remember, the glue is very hot and can burn your skin, so have a grown-up supervise. It will take about a minute for the glue to harden.
2 Open the sport-top spout.
3 Blow up the balloon and pull the open valve end tightly over the sport-top spout. Pinch the balloon’s valve, while you’re attaching the balloon and until you’re ready to “launch,” so the air doesn’t get out.
4 Set the hovercraft on a smooth floor and let it go of the balloon. Give it a gentle push to send it on its way.
HOW IT WORKS: Hovercrafts ride on a layer of pressurized air, which almost completely eliminates the friction that would ordinarily exist between the hovercraft and the ground. Large hovercrafts that carry passengers can travel over land and water at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour.
