How to make a self-propelled boat using these items?

Question

These are the items that can be used:

1) 4 tongue depresser sticks
2) 2 paper clips
3) 2 rubber bands
4) 1 piece of aluminum foil (45cm x 40cm)
5) 1 sheet of newsprint
6) 1 meter of masking tape


NOTE - I am not cheating, our teacher told us that we can use anything on the internet.

Also, boat should be strong enough to hold the weight of 5 toonies and it's lenght shouldn't be over 20 cm (excluding the propulsion mechanism)

Also, boat should be strong enough to hold the weight of 5 toonies and it's lenght shouldn't be over 20 cm (excluding the propulsion mechanism)

Answer 1

here's my idea:

1) form a boat hull shape using the tin foil. Use 2 tongue depressors to provide some structure to wrap the foil around. Tape in place.

2) take one tongue depressor, break it in half. Tape it back together with each side on an angle (opposite angles). Look at a photo of an airplane or boat propeller to see what it should look like.

3) Bend a paperclip into a hook and tape it to part of the propeller. take the other side of the paperclip and bend it so it is sticking straight through the center of your propeller. Tape this end of the paperclip to the last tongue depressor. Tape that depressor to the bottom of your tin foil hull.

4) Use attach the second paper clip near the end of that last tongue depressor in the shape of a hook.

5) run an elastic band from one paperclip hook to the other.

6) Spin the propeller by hand to wind up the elastic band.

7) place in water and let go. It should move about 1/2 an inch ;-)

Answer 2

1. Use the aluminum foil as the base of the boat. Have one small piece of aluminum foil cut (say 5 cm by 7 cm)

2. Stick the 4 tongue depresser sticks to form the sides of the boat. (2 on each side) The front will have 2 tongue depressors ends joined.

3. The back of the boat should have the projecting ends of the tongue depresser.

4. Cover the boat shape with the newsprint and glue it well. (use good colors). Cover any gaps in the shape.

5. Cover the newsprint with the masking tape so that the newsprint does not get wet while in water.

6. Now fit the two rubber bands such that they join the two protruding ends of the tongue deps.

7. Using 2 paper clips fasten the small aluminum foil piece to the center of rubber bands.

Your boat is ready.

Now put it in a water tub, and revolve the back strip as many times around the axis of the rubber band. Now release the boat and the little AL strip. Your boat is now ready to race. The more twists you put into the AL strip, the more distance ur boat will cover and the faster it will go.

Hope it made sense. I have made this during my teens. But I could not get you the snaps of how it will look like. All the best with ur project.