Hovercraft transport people and their stuff across ice, grass, swamp, water, and land. Also known as the Air Cushioned Vehicle (ACV), these machines use air to greatly reduce the sliding friction between the bottom of the vehicle (the skirt) and the ground. This is a great example of how lubrication works – most people think of oil as the only way to reduce sliding friction, but gases work well if done right.


In this case, the readily-available air is shoved downward by the pressure inside of balloon. This air flows down through the nozzle and out the bottom, under the CD, lifting it slightly as it goes and creating a thin layer for the CD to float on.


Although this particular hovercraft only has a ‘hovering’ option, I’m sure you can quickly figure out how to add a ‘thruster’ to make it zoom down the table! (Hint – you will need to add a second balloon!)


Here’s what you need:


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Comments

2 Responses to “Simple Hovercraft”

  1. Absolutely! You can make a second cone and tape it to your second balloon and have it perpendicular to the first, you may have to add a little structural reinforcement for it to hold its shape well. Keep everything light so that the weight of the second balloon doesn’t tilt it backwards and ruin the cushion of air its riding on with the CD.

  2. michael_vo says:

    we’ve just built the first hovercraft with my 6 years old Leonard. He wants to add the thruster 2nd balloon but I couldn’t figure out where to connect it.

    would you please help us.

    thanks