Student Activity - Minerals at Sea

INTRODUCTION

Sailing at the Beijing Olympics will feature several events, the most modern class of yacht being the 49ers. These yachts will race at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. Qingdao is located on the southern coastline of the Shandong Peninsula, in east China's Shandong Province.

The 49er is 4.99 metres long (hence the name) and has a narrow hull (1.69m), but is fitted with wings on either side, making it very wide (2.9m). It is an all-Australian design. It carries three sails: a mainsail, a jib, and a spinnaker and requires a very athletic crew of two.

Sailing is one of the modern sports that use products of the minerals and petroleum industry. Everything on a yacht, including what the crew members wear, comes from out of the ground.

For more information on sailing and other events at the Beijing Olympics visit:
http://en.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/sports/sailing/

INVESTIGATION

To learn about 49er yachts and the characteristics of the high tech materials of which they are made.

WHAT YOU NEED

• Information table: Features of the 49er.
• Samples of some strands of the following from a local fibreglass shop - fibreglass, carbon fibre and Kevlar.
• Cotton string, wool, and 'catgut' fishing line.
• Scissors

If you do not wish to locate samples, students can still answer most of the questions.

WHAT TO DO

1. Randomly label the three samples A, B and C and examine each one carefully.
2. Compare what each strand looks like, how it feels and how each reacts when rubbed.
3. Design and carry out a series of tests to compare the samples A, B and C.
   • Which can be cut with scissors?
   • Which can be stretched?
   • Which one is the lightest?
4. Compare the strength of the samples to other fibres - eg. cotton string, wool, and 'catgut' fishing line.

QUESTIONS

1. Identify which sample is which, using the following clues:
   • Kevlar cannot be cut or stretched. It is very strong.
   • Carbon fibre cannot be stretched. It is very strong under tension. It is also very expensive!
   • Fibreglass can be stretched a little. It provides some 'give' under tension.
   • Carbon fibre is the lightest, followed closely by Kevlar.

   
   Sample A is ______________________________________________________________

   Sample B is ______________________________________________________________

   Sample C is ______________________________________________________________

2. Which fibre would be the most suitable to build a sail? ______________________________________________________________

   
   Why? ______________________________________________________________

3. Which would be the most suitable to build a rudder and centreboard?
   ______________________________________________________________

   
   Why? ______________________________________________________________

4. Which would be the most suitable to build a hull? ______________________________________________________________

   
   Why? ______________________________________________________________