Jerrick Naylor

Physics 1010

Final Project
For my final project I decided to use a program on my
computer to build a prototype of my idea and show it to the class.
The program I will be using is called Garrys Mod, it is a very
realistic physics simulation game made entirely by its users.
Because of how much experience I have with the program, I
should be able to build a semi-realistic prototype and be able to
fully test it out in simulated water. I use the program all the time
just for fun so it will be an interesting challenge to build
something as a class project.
Before I started using the program I decided to draw a
design that would transfer the rotational movement of the pedals,
to a fan mounted on the back of the vehicle. When the person
operating the vehicle pedals, movement from the pedals will be
transferred through a series of shafts and gears. After the energy
from the pedals goes through the shafts and gears, the speed of
the rotation will double before finally making it too the fan. The
frame that is attached to every main component will be sitting on
two large hard plastic hollow tubes which will provide the
buoyancy.
The steering will be done by turning the bike handlebars,
mounted similarly to how it would be in a real bike. Attached to
handle bars will be a shaft that extends to the bottom of the
vehicle. Connected to the shaft will be a series of gears that
translate the rotational movement of the handle bars to a tail fin
extending out of the back of the vehicle. The fin will move back
and forth to determine the direction of travel.
I think this design will work very well. I think you will be able
to get enough forward thrust from the fan to move forward at a
low speed. It will probably be a very exhausting activity but it is

possible. The steering will work well because I have seen it used
for different water borne vehicles, like boats. I think one of the
downsides of this design is it will probably be relatively heavy,
making it difficult to move at speeds higher than someone could
most likely swim.

1. Thrust
The forward movement of the vehicle will be achieved by
pedaling. I think this is a good way because humans can
generate the most force with their legs. Force from the pedals
will first travel down a shaft coming directly out of the side of the
pedals. The shaft will then connect to a gear facing perpendicular
to the shaft. When rotational movement, coming from the pedals,
travels through the shaft, it will start to spin the first gear. The
first gear is then connected to a smaller gear. This allows the
speed of rotation to be increased based on how many teeth each
gear has. For instance if the first gear had 40 teeth and the
second gear had 20 teeth, the second gear would make two full
rotations every time the first gear makes one. This happens
because there is twice as many teeth.
After the speed of the rotational movement has been
doubled, the second gear then connects to a second shaft. This
shaft extends to the opposite side of the vehicle. I had to design
it this way to keep the weight centered. If I had put all of the
gears on the same side of the vehicle, it would be more unstable
and very prone to tipping over. The second shaft then connects
to a third gear. This gear is designed to change the direction of
rotational movement. The teeth on this gear are angled so it can
be linked to another gear with angled teeth perpendicularly.
The angled teeth of this gear are connected to the angled
teeth of the fourth gear in such a way that allows the forward
rotation of the pedals to be transferred to sideways rotation. This
has to happen in order for the fan to be facing the correct
direction on the vehicle. The fourth and final gear is connected to
a short shaft that leads to the fan mounted to the back of the

frame. The blades on the fan are angled slightly so that when
they rotate, they scoop the air and push the vehicle forward.

2. Steering
The steering will happen kind of similarly to how it would
happen in a boat. There will be a fin mounted under the water on
the back of the vehicle to determine what direction it will be
traveling. If the fin is tilted towards the right side, the vehicle will
rotate towards the right. If the fin is tilted towards the left, it will
rotate that direction.
The steering starts with the bike handle bars. I wanted to
keep the steering very similar to a real bike so it would be easy
for anyone to use. The bike handle bars will be connected to a
metal shaft. That shaft will pass through the frame in such a way
that will allow it to be supported and still spin on an axis. The
shaft will then pass through to the bottom of the vehicle.
Under the vehicle will be two large gears responsible for
translating the rotational movement of the bike handle bars into
movement of the fin. The shaft will connect directly to the first
gear, in the center, so when the shaft rotates, so does the gear.
The teeth of the first gear will line up with the second gear so that
when the first gear spins, the second gear will spin in the opposite
direction. I had it work this way so when you turn the bike handle
bars to the left, movement will travel through the gears and cause
the fin to also move to the left side of the vehicle. Water hitting
the fin from the forward movement will cause the vehicle to rotate
to the left.

3.Buoyancy and Stability

Buoyancy will be achieved by mounting two large, hollow,
hard plastic tubes to the bottom of the frame. These hollow tubes
will extend out the back and the front of the vehicle a few feet for
maximum stability. The plastic tubes will be placed about 4 feet
apart so the vehicle will not tip over when entering or exiting.
They will be made of high grade, light weight, durable plastic for

maximum efficiency. The plastic tubes will also be rounded on the

front and the back to reduce friction from the water.
I considered putting a shaft coming out from the bottom of
the vehicle, extending several feel below the water. If there were
a weight attached to the end of the shaft it could increase
stability. I decided against this because it would only increase
friction and weight, making it even more difficult to move forward
in the vehicle.