build a paddle boat | stem for kids (video)...a steam engine was used to drive a paddle wheel for...

Build A Paddle Boat | STEM ForKids (Video)

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Water science experiment is always a hit for my kid during the summer.

Today, I showed her how to build a simple paddle boat.

It’s so easy and so much fun. Just use things you probably already have

around the house. Let’s get started.

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What you need

shallow plastic container

3 large rubber bands

2 pencils

cardboard or thick piece of paper as paddles (I used foam shapes)


Steps

1. Using a rubber band, wrap the two pencils onto the plastic

container, one on each side.

2. Put one more rubber band binding the two pencils behind the boat,

and another one in front of the boat for balance.


3. Cut the cardboard into 4 small pieces that are small enough to fit

in the space between the two pencils.

4. On each cardboard, make a cut in the middle but stop half the way

(do not cut it all the way).

5. Put 2 pieces of cardboard together by sliding one slit onto the

other to make a rotating paddle. Do the same to the other 2.

6. Fit the paddles onto the rubber bands.

7. To make them rotate, twist the paddles on the rubber bands to

wind them up.


8. Although there are two paddle wheels, you can use only one of

them or both. The second wheel is there for balancing the boat so

it doesn’t tilt. If you use both, be sure to turn both wheels in the

same direction.

9. Without releasing the twists, place the boat on the water and then

let go.

10. Observe which direction the boat goes.

Why

You have just built a paddle boat! In a real paddle boat, the spinning

drum of paddle boards acts as oars, pushing against the water as it

rotates.

Paddle boats were widely used in the early 19th century as an unique

form of marine transportation.

A steam engine was used to drive a paddle wheel for propulsion and so

they were called steamboatssteamboats.

In this experiment, the paddles were driven by the unwinding rubber

band, which you manually winded before putting it into the water.

So the kinetic energy kinetic energy from your hand was converted into the potentialpotential

energyenergy in the winded rubber band, which in turned was converted into

the kinetic energykinetic energy of the band as it unwinds and the paddles move as a

result.


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COMMENTS

Ivonne says

09/01/2016 at 10:46 am

What a fun learning project!

REPLY

April says

09/01/2016 at 9:04 am

Wow! This looks so cool! I know my kids would love this!

REPLY

Melissa says

08/27/2016 at 1:10 am

Wow, this looks so fun and EASY!! I will be adding this on the list of

things to do when my little guy gets a bit older.

REPLY

Abigail says

08/26/2016 at 7:47 pm

This is such a fun idea and I know my son with LOVE it! Thanks so


much for the tips!

REPLY

Allison says

08/26/2016 at 1:04 pm

I love this activity! I am saving this for when my kids get a little

older. Thank you!

REPLY

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