Summarize the results
The boat with the largest keel was much more stable without the keel. When the boat with no keel was tipped over, it rolled 5 times on average. When the boat with the large keel was tipped over, it rolled only 1/4 time on average. A boat with a medium keel rolled 3/4 time on average. A boat with a small keel rolled 1 time on average.
The boat with the largest keel was much more stable without the keel. When the boat with no keel was tipped over, it rolled 5 times on average. When the boat with the large keel was tipped over, it rolled only 1/4 time on average. A boat with a medium keel rolled 3/4 time on average. A boat with a small keel rolled 1 time on average.
Was the hypothesis proven or disproven?
The hypothesis was proven to be correct. A boat with a large keel is much more stable than a boat with no keel.
The hypothesis was proven to be correct. A boat with a large keel is much more stable than a boat with no keel.
How could the project be improved or changed next time?
The project could be improved by using more realistic boat models. In the real world, not all keels are bilge keels, so it would be good to use different sizes and shapes of keels. Also, even bilge keels can be very different from one another. Bilge keels on sailboats go deeper into the water, but are not very long. But bilge keels on large ships can be very long but don't go very deep. Testing each of these types of bilge keels would be a good improvement on this project.
The project could be improved by using more realistic boat models. In the real world, not all keels are bilge keels, so it would be good to use different sizes and shapes of keels. Also, even bilge keels can be very different from one another. Bilge keels on sailboats go deeper into the water, but are not very long. But bilge keels on large ships can be very long but don't go very deep. Testing each of these types of bilge keels would be a good improvement on this project.
Different kinds of keels
A bilge keel on a ship
A bilge keel on a sailboat