Results and Conclusions

The final test of the SeaPerch, before one propeller broke, enabled the group to determine that the newly designed SeaPerch moved at a speed of .412 meters per second. The new design of the SeaPerch covered a distance of 12.8 meters in 31.1 seconds, whereas the original design covered this distance in 40.7 seconds. Furthermore, the original design of the SeaPerch moved at a speed of .314 meters per second. This proves that the group was in fact successful at altering the SeaPerch in order to make it more hydrodynamic. The SeaPerch was able to move more smoothly and efficiently through the water, allowing it to move at a quicker pace. The group increased the speed of the SeaPerch by 31.2%. This is calculated by taking the speed of new design, subtracting the speed of the original design, dividing that amount by the speed of the original design, and multiplying by 100 to get a percent.

.412 m/s - .314 m/s  x 100  =   .098 m/s  x 100 = 31.2%
         .314 m/s                          .314 m/s

Overall, the group was successful in completely the goal of making the SeaPerch more hydrodynamic. Unfortunately, the data is based on the assumption that the SeaPerch would have continued at the same pace across the rest of the width of the diving well. If the group had had more time to accomplish the task, more success could have been reached, and the propeller could have been repaired. The group was limited since the SeaPerch kit was not given to the group until the end of week four, which only left about five weeks of work time.