How Submarines Sink & Swim

To dive underwater and then resurface, the submarine's crew must be able to control the ship's weight or density. We can compare this to an empty can floating in the water. The empty can could become more "rock-like" and sink by pouring water into the can. By controlling the amount of water we pour into the can, we can control the rate and depth of its dive under the water's surface. Submarines have an inner and an outer steel shell, called a hull. The area in between the two hulls is called the ballast tank. It can be filled with either air or water. When the submarine is on the surface, the ballast tanks are filled with air and the submarine's overall density is less than that of the surrounding water. Ballast tanks are open at the bottom. To dive, the submarine operator opens up valves at the top and lets air out. It's something like blowing bubbles when you are swimming underwater. Seawater rushes in to fill the space that was taken up by air. This changes the ship's density. When the density of the submarine is greater than the surrounding water, it begins to sink. This is called negative buoyancy. A moveable set of wings, called hydroplanes, helps control the angle of the dive. To keep the submarine at any specific depth, the crew adjusts the mixture of air and water in separate, smaller ballast tanks. The operator tries to keep the submarine's overall density about the same as the surrounding water. This is called neutral buoyancy. When the submarine reaches its cruising depth, the hydroplanes are straightened so the craft can travel level through the water. If something changes the submarine's weight and density, such as firing torpedoes, the operator must make further adjustments of the water/air mixture in the ballast tanks. To surface, the submarine operator releases compressed air into the ballast tanks. The highpressure air forces seawater out of the bottom of the tanks until the submarine's overall density is less than the surrounding water. When this happens, it floats upward. This is called positive buoyancy. The hydroplanes are angled upward so the bow (front) of the boat rises first. By controlling the amount of air and water in the ballast tanks, a submarine can operate at any depth under the water.

How Submarines are Powered

Over the years, engineers have used a variety of sources to power submarines. However, it was not until 1955, when nuclear power was first used on the USS Nautilus, that subs were able to patrol beneath the surface for months at a time. Electric batteries, while important for backup power, simply did not last long enough. The British sub Porpoise had thousands of battery-cells, but could only pro-vide power for two or three days. Diesel engines were powerful, but required a fresh air supply, so were only useful on the surface. Like other power sources, nuclear reactors create heat, which makes steam to drive electric generators (for heat, lights and equipment) and to power the turbines that make the propellers turn. Since nuclear reaction does not require an air supply, it has proven to be a superior source of power. The Ohioclass nuclear submarine, shown on the cover, refuels only once every nine years!

Make Your Own Sub

This experiment shows how to make a simple device that works like a submarine. Youll learn about buoyancy and have some fun! Its called a Cartesian diver, named after the French scientist Rene Descartes. Heres what youll need: A clear plastic soft drink bottle with a cap (16 ounces or 2 liters) A small test tube or eye-dropper that can fit through the bottle opening Water

Fill the bottle with water and then fill the tube about three-quarters full with water. Angle the bottle a little and drop the tube in upside down. It should barely float. You may have to adjust the amount of water in the tube to get it right. With the inverted tube in the bottle, top off the water and cap the bottle tightly. Except for a small amount of air in the tube, there shouldnt be any air inside the bottle. To work the diver, squeeze the side of the bottle and observe what happens. Next, release the bottle and observe what happens.