Ideas for a self-propelled boat

ginny · Post by **ginny** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:35 am

PLEASE help me....

I have no idea what to do...
The boat should be able to carry 150 grams of weight and swim at least 1 meter...

ginny · Post by **ginny** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:47 am

I tried to find something on internet, but they are all too hard for me...

deleted-71447 · Post by **deleted-71447** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:54 am

Hi,
If you can let us know more about the constraints of your project (size and weight of boat? Construction materials? etc.), that would be helpful. Also, please let us know your grade level in school, and what about the internet versions seems too difficult for you.

Chris

ginny · Post by **ginny** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:44 am

well, it has to be 10 cm wide and 24cm long... the propeler can extend more, however. And we can take it off and test the hull without it.
The difficult thing is that I'm an exchange student and I find it difficult to understand the directions. Also, I have never done anything like that before and... (I'm a senior by the way) I've had 4 years of Physics back in my country (The Republic of Georgia), but we never did things like that... Mostly theory and math....

So I'm having a really hard time doing this...

deleted-71588 · Post by **deleted-71588** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:54 pm

Four years of physics sounds like you are a Senior College student.

This site is all about helping elementry through highshool students with Science Fair projects.

But building a simple 5cmX24cm boat that will go 1m carrying 150g isn't that difficult unless a lot more requirements exist that you haven't communicated.

Break it down:
Boyancy - wood, styrofoam, waxed paper covered cardboard sealed with candle wax, ...
Stability - outrigger, catamaran, traditional dingy/keel board, ....
Propeller - small inexpensive fan for the blades, model boat/airplane parts, piece of sheet metal
Propeller shaft - paper clip, toothpick, ...
Motor/Power source - simplest would be a rubber band you twist.
Leak avoidance - outboard motor techniques that don't require a hole in the hull, twisted rubber band used as power source and keel board, propeller shaft angled through solid styrofoam to above the water line, ...

A Senior College project can't be this simple, there probably are a lot more requirements or some sort of competition for grade involved.