Watercraft

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/watercraft

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the maritime trade volume?Over 80% of global trade by volume is transported by sea
2. What is the hydrodynamic efficiency?Hull design is critical for minimizing drag and maximizing stability
3. How do boats stay afloat?Boats stay afloat because of buoyancy. When a boat is in water, it pushes aside water and gets an upward push equal to the weight of that water.
4. Why are ships important for trade?Ships are important for trade because they can carry huge amounts of goods across oceans. They are cheaper and use less energy per ton than planes or trucks.

Hydrodynamics: The study of the motion of fluids and the forces acting on bodies moving through them.
Displacement Hull: A hull design that moves water aside to float, common in large, slow vessels.
Planing Hull: A hull design that lifts and skims the water's surface at high speeds, found on performance boats.