Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

OK I have an interesting project that I am working on for my physics class. I was wondering if I could get some help. I and my two partners have to build a water craft that will get my 100 lb friend across the school's regulation size pool. She must be standing at all times as she crosses the pool and we cannot use more than two bycicle parts, meaning the chain sprocket and so forth. Any Ideas?

Hi kelsey,

If you pose "How do I build a leg powered water craft?" to answers.com, you'll get back a raft of resources. Note: several are protected by U.S. patent. I don't believe that would scuttle private use (i.e., not selling the device).

Note, you may to experiment with the input to answers (or web search tool of your choosing).

Note also, the top hit - a pdf file was not responding, when I just tried it.

kelsey wrote:OK I have an interesting project that I am working on for my physics class. I was wondering if I could get some help. I and my two partners have to build a water craft that will get my 100 lb friend across the school's regulation size pool. She must be standing at all times as she crosses the pool and we cannot use more than two bycicle parts, meaning the chain sprocket and so forth. Any Ideas?

Hey, Kelsey!

I guess you mean that your 100-pound friend will be the passenger AND source of leg power? She is allowed to stand and do something with her feet, but she can't sit or lay down. Is that about right?

Do you have any restrictions on the parts and materials you can use besides being limited to only 2 parts from a bicycle? What can you use for floatation, for example? By the way, how does your project define a "part" of a bicycle? Could one part be the pedals and sprocket assembly, or would that be considered multiple parts?

This sounds like a cool project. I think we need more information to really help you.