Maximum Weight on a Kayak

by Ryan Roseboom

Submitted : Spring 2012

The objective of this project was to find the maximum load that a kayak could accommodate while still remaining afloat. Archimedes’ principle was used to calculate the maximum additional mass. The principle states that, “any floating object displaces its own weight of fluid.” Some data concerning the kayak is given, but volume and surface area of the kayak must be calculated. The volume and surface area of the kayak can be determined many different ways. In this project, two methods were chosen: Riemann sums and lines of best fit. After all of the components are determined, it is possible to solve for the maximum additional load. The calculated maximum additional load of the kayak in this problem is 260.5 kg. This load was determined by using the lines of best-fit method because it is more accurate than the Riemann sums method.

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