Day 6: Mathematical Modelling Challenge




Us at Griffith University




Briefing before the challenge

We are Group 1 and it consists of Sarah Ng, Ong Yong Xin, Vanessa Kerk and Tan Zhi Han.

Today is the first day of the real challenge and each of us are divided into different groups. Sarah and Zhi Han are divided into groups that would be designing a hull of a boat, wheresas, Vanessa would be doing on Mega Whoosh and Yong Xin would be doing on the Barbie Bungy.

Zhi Han:
My group was given the task of designing a boat and investigate how the shape of the hull affects how it moves through the water. Designing the boat hull was not as easy as we did not really know the structure of the boat, but after studying the notes provided and much discussion, we decided on the desired hull and started designing and moulding the shape of the boat hull. The aim of our experiment was to be able to make the boat balance and move on the water  in a trough propelled by a deflating balloon. It was not as easy as expected as our boat was slightly bigger and heavier. However, my group cooperated well and were able to design and make a boat hull that was able to work better and travel around 50+ cm. Although it was not a great distance, we were satisfied that it was able to succeed. As it still wasn't the best, we would still continue working together tomorrow and improve its design so that we would be able to make the boat move further and hopefully win the challenge.^^



Our hull!

Testing of the boat in the trough

Sarah:
My group was assigned the task of designing a hull for a boat. At the start, my group members and I were quite awkward with each other we kept a lot of comments to ourselves. However, as time goes by, we stepped out of our comfort zones and started to speak up.

We decided to make a house boat first. However, due to the slow speed of the house boat, the idea was rejected as it would not meet the objectives of this task. In the end, we decided to make a round bottom, displacement hull. This boat would not only be stable but it would move at a relatively fast speed with little energy required.

We split the work up among ourselves with Brian doing the design of our hull on the laptop with an interesting programme. Michelle, Maxine and I were making the model of the boat using a block of wood and playdough. By lunch, the computed design and the model itself was completed.


Perfecting the hull

After lunch, we used a machine to turn our model into a plastic mould. So far, the boat is stable on the water. However, the balloon that would propel the boat forward has yet to be completed. But tomorrow, we would definitely finish our model and our powerpoint and it would definitely be successful and hopefully we would win this challenge and win the graphic calculator! (:

Yong Xin:
Today my group was assigned to make a model of the Barbie Bungy and using our prototype, we were supposed to drop it from a height of approximately 5.07m from the ground. The aim of the experiment is to find out which group's prototype was nearest from the ground upon its first drop. Initially, when I was working with my new group mates, everybody seemed to have their own ideas of how we could create the model.

Firstly, we had the problem of how we could fill the balloon. From my point of view, I felt that we should be filling the balloon with partially air and water. However, when I expressed my views and my ideas to the entire group, one of my group members opposed strongly because she felt that her idea of filling the entire balloon with water would be a better one.

Secondly, we also had a debate on how we should be tying the rubberbands to support the balloon to make it a more reliable model. Over lunch, I actually showed the model to a professor and asked him how I could improve on the model. After having a glance at the model, he immediately said that there was a need to change the way on how we were tying the rubber bands and I agreed with his explanation and his suggestion of improving the model. After a short discussion with the professor, I immediately approached my group mates to share with them what I had in mind. However, the same group mate opposed my idea once again because she felt that there was no need to improve the model anymore and there was no time. Because of that, I decided to conduct an experiment on the suggestion so as to improve the model further. After lunch time, I managed to produce concrete evidence of my idea being a better one and after much explanation and elaboration, the group mate finally relented.



Yong Xin deep in discussion with the professor



Measuring the drop of the bungy


Before the day ended, we managed to work as a group and produce a model which was satisfactory (model was 2cm from the ground when dropped from a height of 5.07m) and hopefully, we would be able to work better tomorrow for a better presentation and hopefully, win the graphic calculator. :)

Vanessa:
The Megawoosh task was to prove whether the video was real or a fake. We also had to do up a poster and we had to make a model which would enable our marble travel the furthest. We learnt to look at the problem as a big picture instead of data that was analysed critically. I also learnt to speak proper english. Because when I spoke to them with the Singaporean accent. They didn't get what I was saying, so I had to pronounce properly and phrase my sentences properly.


Experimenting with the track

After the modelling challenge, we went back to our apartment to wash up and headed to Robina Shopping Centre to do some late night shopping - something that can only happen on Thursday. Although this was only a shopping trip, we managed to bond together as a group and learn many new points. As time was limited, we constantly reminded each other to hurry up a little if we spent too much time in a particular shop. We also compromised with each other by waiting patiently for each other even if it wasn't the shop that one of us wanted to go to. Overall, we bonded together even more with each other through this trip and we enjoyed each other's company greatly and had a lot of fun together.