Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

The only "portable" water tunnel that I could find was at http://www.rollinghillsresearch.com/Wat ... _0710.html , but this costs $10,000.
I want to be able to test submarine desings in this water tunnel.

Hi Submarine Man,

To begin start by thinking 'small-scale'. The link that you posted there shows a very complex and advanced system of measuring how bodies in water exhibit drag.

You can do the same thing with simple-home made components, and with the help of mother nature (ie. Gravity).

I found this link from another students school project:
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/soar/sciproj ... W.html#Pro
This student measured various shapes and what drag they have by letting those bodies fall in a pre-determined height PVC pipe filled with water and seeing what the difference is in time for those different bodies to fall to the bottom of the pipe. Of course here you won't be able to do complicated experiments like they do in the University or the industry. But it is a start.

I hope this helps to some extent ! Good luck.