Unit A Lesson A14 Transportation of Fluids
Completion requirements
Lesson A14: Going Places With Fluids
Video Lesson
Watch this video to learn more about how moving fluids are useful for many different kinds of transportation.
Lesson A14: Going Places With Fluids
Figure A.4.14.1 – In the early 1900’s, dirigibles were a common form of transportation.
Figure A.4.14.2 – The Hindenburg airship exploded in 1937.
Figure A.4.14.3 – A few blimps are still used today, mainly for advertising.
Reading and Materials for This Lesson
Science in Action 8
Reading: Pages 69–72
Materials:
Empty and clean 2 L pop bottle, sharp scissors, plastic tubing (1 metre, 5-10 mm in diameter), modelling clay, 10 coins, duct tape, kitchen sink or deep container, water, balloon, old CD or DVD, hot glue gun, piece of cardstock paper, tape, ruler,
sports bottle cap.
Dirigibles
A dirigible, or airship, was a common method of air transportation in the early 1900s. A dirigible is a massive air-filled balloon with a propeller and an attached passenger compartment. Some airships have solid frames. These are sometimes known as Zeppelins, after their German inventor. Airships without frames are also known as blimps.
Dirigibles are filled with a gas that is less dense than air. Hydrogen gas was commonly used in early airships. However, hydrogen gas is very flammable, which led to some dirigible disasters. One famous airship disaster is the explosion of the Hindenburg Zeppelin in 1937. By 1950, although militaries still used dirigibles, passenger airship travel came to an end. Passenger jet airplanes had been developed, replacing slower-moving dirigibles.
A few dirigibles still exist, but they are filled with non-flammable helium gas and used for sightseeing and advertising purposes rather than long-distance travel.
A dirigible, or airship, was a common method of air transportation in the early 1900s. A dirigible is a massive air-filled balloon with a propeller and an attached passenger compartment. Some airships have solid frames. These are sometimes known as Zeppelins, after their German inventor. Airships without frames are also known as blimps.
Dirigibles are filled with a gas that is less dense than air. Hydrogen gas was commonly used in early airships. However, hydrogen gas is very flammable, which led to some dirigible disasters. One famous airship disaster is the explosion of the Hindenburg Zeppelin in 1937. By 1950, although militaries still used dirigibles, passenger airship travel came to an end. Passenger jet airplanes had been developed, replacing slower-moving dirigibles.
A few dirigibles still exist, but they are filled with non-flammable helium gas and used for sightseeing and advertising purposes rather than long-distance travel.
Watch More
Lighter Than Air
Watch this video to learn more about the inventor of Zeppelin airships.
Watch this video to learn more about the inventor of Zeppelin airships.
Travel by dirigibles was largely abandoned after the Hindenburg Zeppelin disaster in 1937. This video shows live footage of the Hindenburg explosion.
Will airships ever make a comeback? Watch this video to find out more.
A well-known airship is the Goodyear blimp. Watch this video to see what it is like to fly in a blimp.
Figure A.4.14.4 – Submarines move up and down in the water.
Figure A.4.14.5 – Most submarines are used for military purposes.
Figure A.4.14.6 – Some submarines are used for deep ocean research.
Submarines
Submarines were first invented in the 1600s, but they weren’t practical for widespread use until the early 1900s. Submarines have mostly been used as military vehicles. Military submarines were used during both World War I and World War II. Submarines are able to hide underwater and sneak up on ships without being detected easily. They send out torpedoes, or rockets, that blast holes into ships.
Today, submarines are still used in the military, but they are also used for deep ocean scientific research. In 1960, the Trieste bathyscaphe carried two people to the deepest ocean floor in the world, the Mariana Trench.
The Alvin is a deep-ocean research submarine that has been operating since the 1960s. Scientists on the Alvin research life and geological features in the deep ocean. The Alvin was also used to discover and explore the shipwreck of the Titanic.
Submarines were first invented in the 1600s, but they weren’t practical for widespread use until the early 1900s. Submarines have mostly been used as military vehicles. Military submarines were used during both World War I and World War II. Submarines are able to hide underwater and sneak up on ships without being detected easily. They send out torpedoes, or rockets, that blast holes into ships.
Today, submarines are still used in the military, but they are also used for deep ocean scientific research. In 1960, the Trieste bathyscaphe carried two people to the deepest ocean floor in the world, the Mariana Trench.
The Alvin is a deep-ocean research submarine that has been operating since the 1960s. Scientists on the Alvin research life and geological features in the deep ocean. The Alvin was also used to discover and explore the shipwreck of the Titanic.
Watch More
We All Live in a Yellow Submarine
Watch this video to learn more about the invention of the first submarines.
Watch this video to learn more about the invention of the first submarines.
Watch this video to learn about the Trieste’s journey to the Mariana Trench in 1960.
What is it like to be on a deep ocean submarine? Watch this video to learn more.
James Cameron, a filmmaker, did a solo dive to the Mariana Trench in 2012. Watch these two videos to learn more about the submarine he travelled in.
Drones don’t just fly in the air. They can move in water too. Watch this video to see the invention of a robotic drone submarine.
Try It!
Build a Pop Bottle Submarine
Try this simple experiment to build a submarine model out of a pop bottle and plastic tubing.
Materials:
Try this simple experiment to build a submarine model out of a pop bottle and plastic tubing.
Materials:
- Empty and clean 2 L pop bottle
- Sharp scissors
- Plastic tubing (1 metre, 5-10 mm in diameter)
- Modelling clay
- 10 coins
- Duct tape
- Kitchen sink or deep container
- Water
Safety Warning
Take care with scissors; don't cut yourself or anyone else!
Instructions:
This website shows a similar example of how to build your submarine.
This website shows a similar example of how to build your submarine.
- Cut 3 holes in a row lengthwise along the long side of the pop bottle.
- Tape 5 coins on either side of the line of holes.
- Insert the plastic tubing into the pop bottle opening.
- Surround the bottle opening with modelling clay, to hold the plastic tubing securely in place.
- Fill the sink or deep container with water.
- Place the plastic bottle submarine, coins facing down, into the water. Do not let the other end of the plastic tubing enter the water. What do you observe?
- Blow several times into the plastic tubing to add air to the submarine. What do you observe?
- Watch this video to see a similar experiment and its results:
Questions:
Think about the following questions very carefully. Then, type or write your answers. After you have your answers, click the questions for feedback.
Think about the following questions very carefully. Then, type or write your answers. After you have your answers, click the questions for feedback.
The pop bottle submarine sank because the open holes in the bottom allowed water to enter the bottle. As water filled the bottle, the average density of the pop bottle submarine became greater than water’s density, causing it to sink.
Real submarines have ballast tanks. When a submarine sinks, its ballast tanks are opened, allowing water to enter and increase the average density of the submarine, causing it to sink.
Real submarines have ballast tanks. When a submarine sinks, its ballast tanks are opened, allowing water to enter and increase the average density of the submarine, causing it to sink.
The pop bottle submarine floated because the added air forced water out of the bottle. This reduced the average density of the pop bottle submarine, causing it to become more buoyant and rise in the water.
Real submarines carry compressed air. To make a submarine rise, compressed air is forced into its ballast tank. This decreases the average density of the submarine and makes it more buoyant.
Real submarines carry compressed air. To make a submarine rise, compressed air is forced into its ballast tank. This decreases the average density of the submarine and makes it more buoyant.
Figure A.4.14.7 – Scuba divers can swim 30 metres below the ocean’s surface.
Figure A.4.14.8 – Scuba divers carry air tanks to breathe.
Figure A.4.14.9 – Deep water rescue and salvage operations often require scuba divers.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is another method allowing humans to explore underwater. People scuba dive for fun, for research, and for search and rescue.
Scuba stands for “Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus”. In order to breathe, scuba divers must carry an air tank with a regulator. The regulator maintains air pressure at a level that is safe for human lungs.
Scuba divers also need to regulate their buoyancy. To do this, they carry a buoyancy control device, which is similar to a life jacket. The buoyancy control device can be filled with air from the tank or the diver’s mouth. When the jacket contains less air, the diver sinks. When the jacket contains more air, the diver floats.
Scuba divers generally don’t dive deeper than 30 metres below the water’s surface. However, even at this depth, high water pressure from above affects the human body. At high pressure, greater concentrations of nitrogen gas from the air tank dissolve in body tissues and blood. Scuba divers need to rise back up to the surface slowly, or they get decompression sickness from the extra nitrogen gas in their body tissues. Decompression sickness causes a lot of joint pain, which is why it is also known as “the bends”.
Scuba diving is another method allowing humans to explore underwater. People scuba dive for fun, for research, and for search and rescue.
Scuba stands for “Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus”. In order to breathe, scuba divers must carry an air tank with a regulator. The regulator maintains air pressure at a level that is safe for human lungs.
Scuba divers also need to regulate their buoyancy. To do this, they carry a buoyancy control device, which is similar to a life jacket. The buoyancy control device can be filled with air from the tank or the diver’s mouth. When the jacket contains less air, the diver sinks. When the jacket contains more air, the diver floats.
Scuba divers generally don’t dive deeper than 30 metres below the water’s surface. However, even at this depth, high water pressure from above affects the human body. At high pressure, greater concentrations of nitrogen gas from the air tank dissolve in body tissues and blood. Scuba divers need to rise back up to the surface slowly, or they get decompression sickness from the extra nitrogen gas in their body tissues. Decompression sickness causes a lot of joint pain, which is why it is also known as “the bends”.
Watch More
Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
How do high pressures deep underwater affect the body? Watch this video to find out more.
How do high pressures deep underwater affect the body? Watch this video to find out more.
Scuba divers are not able to dive very deep in the ocean. To overcome this limitation, a new one-person submarine suit is under development.
Figure A.4.14.10 – Hovercraft boats skim across the water.
Figure A.4.14.11 – Hovercrafts can dock on beaches and skim over land.
Figure A.4.14.12 – You can often see a hovercraft in Vancouver’s harbour.
Hovercraft
Hovercraft boats have flat bottoms, can reach high speeds, and can land in places that are difficult to access. Hovercrafts contain engines which power big spinning fans. The fans are pointed downward, forcing air under the bottom of the hovercraft. Although this air eventually escapes, it is temporarily trapped by a skirt, creating an air cushion under the hovercraft. This air cushion has a slightly larger pressure than normal air pressure, which pushes the hovercraft slightly upwards above the water or land surface. Hovercrafts can move quickly because they don’t contact water or the ground, which reduces friction.
Hovercrafts are used for many purposes. They are used for tourist sightseeing in remote areas. Hovercrafts are good shipwreck rescue boats, because they move fast and can access shallow beaches. Hovercrafts are also effective for rescuing people from thin ice, because they can skim over the surface without touching and breaking the ice.
Hovercraft boats have flat bottoms, can reach high speeds, and can land in places that are difficult to access. Hovercrafts contain engines which power big spinning fans. The fans are pointed downward, forcing air under the bottom of the hovercraft. Although this air eventually escapes, it is temporarily trapped by a skirt, creating an air cushion under the hovercraft. This air cushion has a slightly larger pressure than normal air pressure, which pushes the hovercraft slightly upwards above the water or land surface. Hovercrafts can move quickly because they don’t contact water or the ground, which reduces friction.
Hovercrafts are used for many purposes. They are used for tourist sightseeing in remote areas. Hovercrafts are good shipwreck rescue boats, because they move fast and can access shallow beaches. Hovercrafts are also effective for rescuing people from thin ice, because they can skim over the surface without touching and breaking the ice.
Watch More
Riding on a Cushion of Air
This video shows the first hovercraft journey across the English Channel in 1959.
This video shows the first hovercraft journey across the English Channel in 1959.
Watch this video to see an early hovercraft passenger ferry.
Watch
this video to see a small hovercraft that some scientists built. It operates similarly to larger hovercraft boats.
Try It!
Build a Hovercraft
Try this experiment to build your own working miniature hovercraft.
Materials:
Try this experiment to build your own working miniature hovercraft.
Materials:
- Balloon
- Old CD or DVD
- Hot glue gun
- Piece of cardstock paper
- Scissors
- Tape
- Ruler
- Sports bottle cap
Safety Warning
This activity involves a hot glue gun. It must be completed with the supervision of an adult. DO NOT attempt this activity by yourself.
Hot glue guns can burn you or others if you are not careful.
Never leave a hot glue gun unattended.
Unplug the glue gun when you are done.
Allow the hot glue gun to cool in a safe place after use.
Take care with scissors; don't cut yourself or anyone else!
Hot glue guns can burn you or others if you are not careful.
Never leave a hot glue gun unattended.
Unplug the glue gun when you are done.
Allow the hot glue gun to cool in a safe place after use.
Take care with scissors; don't cut yourself or anyone else!
Instructions:
- Glue the sports bottle cap to the CD. Spread a ring of glue around the bottom edge of the sports bottle cap and place the cap around the centre hole of the CD.
- Cut a 20 cm by 5 cm rectangle of cardstock. Roll the cardstock rectangle to form a tube that fits around the sports bottle cap. Tape it together securely.
- Blow up the balloon. Twist the opening several times and hold it so the air doesn’t escape.
- Without letting air escape, pull the balloon opening through the cardstock tube.
- Stretch the balloon opening over the open sports cap, making sure the balloon stays twisted. Adjust the cardstock tube so it fits over the sports bottle cap.
- Place the hovercraft on a flat surface. Release the balloon and give the hovercraft a little push. What do you observe?
- Watch these videos to see similar experiments and their results:
Questions:
Think about the following question very carefully. Then, type or write your answer. After you have your answer, click the question for feedback.
Think about the following question very carefully. Then, type or write your answer. After you have your answer, click the question for feedback.
The balloon released air under the hovercraft surface. This created a higher pressure air cushion for the hovercraft to float on, reducing friction between the hovercraft and the surface. Pushing the hovercraft propelled it across the surface.
Sharing:
Congratulations on completing the activities in this lesson! Your teacher and other students would be interested in seeing the submarine and/or hovercraft you built, so consider sharing your completed work (or any thoughts and experiences you have regarding this activities in this lesson) in the course Sharing Forum.
Congratulations on completing the activities in this lesson! Your teacher and other students would be interested in seeing the submarine and/or hovercraft you built, so consider sharing your completed work (or any thoughts and experiences you have regarding this activities in this lesson) in the course Sharing Forum.
Make sure you have understood everything in this lesson. Use the Self-Check below, and the Self-Check & Lesson Review Tips to guide your learning.
Unit A Lesson 14 Self-Check
Instructions
Complete the following 6 steps.
Don't skip steps – if you do them in order, you will confirm your
understanding of this lesson and create a study bank for the future.
- DOWNLOAD the self-check quiz by clicking here .
- ANSWER all the questions on the downloaded quiz in the spaces provided. Think carefully before typing your answers. Review this lesson if you need to. Save your quiz when you are done.
- COMPARE your answers with the suggested "Self-Check Quiz Answers" below. WAIT! You didn't skip step 2, did you? It's very important to carefully write out your own answers before checking the suggested answers.
-
REVISE your quiz answers if you need to. If you answered all the questions correctly, you can skip this step. Revise means to change, fix, and add extra notes if you need to. This quiz is NOT FOR MARKS, so it is perfectly OK to correct
any mistakes you made. This will make your self-check quiz an excellent study tool you can use later.
- SAVE your quiz to a folder on your computer, or to your Private Files. That way you will know where it is for later studying.
- CHECK with your teacher if you need to. If after completing all these steps you are still not sure about the questions or your answers, you should ask for more feedback from your teacher. To do this, post in the Course Questions Forum, or send your teacher an email. In either case, attach your completed quiz and ask; "Can you look at this quiz and give me some feedback please?" They will be happy to help you!
Be a Self-Check
Superhero!
Self-Check Quiz Answers
Click each of the suggested answers below, and carefully compare your answers to the suggested answers.
If you have not done the quiz yet – STOP – and go back to step 1 above. Do not look at the answers without first trying the questions.
An advantage of blimps is that they don’t burn fossil fuels, so they would help stop the effects of climate change. A disadvantage of blimps is that they don’t move as quickly as airplanes, so long distance travel would be slower.
Saltwater is denser and therefore more buoyant on people than fresh water. Because a person has less buoyancy in fresh water, a diver would descend more easily in fresh water.
Water helps transports nutrients into the body and wastes out of the body. Drinking lots of water is important, so fluids can move around the body properly.
Because they need access to air, snorkelers swim near the water’s surface. The water pressure close to the surface is similar to air pressure, so no extra nitrogen can dissolve in a snorkeler’s body.
Hovercrafts generate air pressure to push them off a surface. However, if the density of a hovercraft boat is too large, the air pressure underneath cannot generate enough force to lift the boat. Hovercrafts are useful for transporting lightweight
objects, like people. However, they would not be suitable to carry heavy objects like cars or metal containers.