My younger brother, in 2nd grade, is doing a "Sink or Float" activity/ competition where he must build a 6" x 6" boat ( basically, a structure that can float; doesn't need to be shaped or look like one) and small tiles will be placed on it, with the boat that can hold the most being the winner. Does anyone know what kind of structure and materials would be the best to support the most ammount of weight? Some restrictions are that you can't use pre-made materials (like a milk jug, or tupperware) and it HAS to be the 6" x 6" dimension, or it won't fit in the bucket. We constructed a small raft with straws wrapped in tin foil that worked fairly well, and tried to use toilet paper roll tubes to make a "pontoon style" floatation device, but they got soggy. Any ideas are welcome. Thanks.
2007-03-12 12:21:43 · 5 answers · asked by UKbigman91 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Try putting your "pontoons" in ziplock bags so they stay dry.
2007-03-12 12:27:14 · answer #1 · answered by Don 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your raft sounds like a good start to me. Why don't you load it up and see how much weight it can take before something goes wrong, then think about how to modify the raft so that what went wrong (boat collapse, tips over, water came in, ...) doesn't? Try the raft rightside up and upside down, both. The source has some boxes you might consider if you want other foil or paper designs. If you decide on paper or cardboard, paint it so it doesn't get soggy.
The image shows just how extreme you can get. Inside that canvas and tubing frame is an amphibious tank that weighs about 30 tons.
2007-03-12 13:37:17 · answer #2 · answered by virtualguy92107 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son made a boat out of blue insulating foam like you'd buy at Lowes or home depot. You can cut it into that shape of a boat.
I like the toilet paper rolls idea. To keep them form getting soggy you could cover then with epoxy and fold or seal the ends with a cap of some sort. Again sealed with epoxy. Then use some Popsicle sticks to connect the pontoons. You might want to try paper towel rolls cut off to your dimensions since they will provide more buoyancy.
Don't know if epoxy is allowed but if you use it made sure you use latex gloved when working with the stuff. You can buy the epoxy at the local home improvement store. Paint might work in place of epoxy.
Good luck.
2007-03-12 12:59:58 · answer #3 · answered by Lost in PA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
40 Boat Building Videos - http://BoatPlans.NaturallyGo.com/?WNR
2016-04-02 22:39:56 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
polystyrene foam might help....the stuff they pack tvs & videos in when they transport them.....Local Electrical shop probably has some in there rubbish bin...cost nothing to ask...
rough shape with a knife.. light sand with sand paper to finnish....light & plenty of floatation...dosnt fill up with water...
2007-03-12 14:33:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋