Instructions to Build a Camphor Boat

Introduction

Camphor boats are another easy to build boat. Chances are you have all you need to build one already in your house. I don't remember camphor boats holding my interest for a real long time; they move forward fairly slowly. However, given that they are very easy to make, probably 15 minutes worth of work, and that kids, young ones especially, like to get wet, it is worth building one.

I am not real sure of the principle of their movement but here goes an explanation. As the camphor dissolves the surface tension of the water is lowered at the rear of the boat. The higher surface tension at the front pulls the boat forwards.

What You Will Need

You will need a pair of scissors to cut the foil and a pin to pierce it.

How To Build It

  1. With the scissors, cut out a triangle of foil shaped as shown in the figure. Dimensions of the
     foil
  2. With the pin poke a 2 mm hole in foil at the point marked in the figure.
  3. Pinch the corners of the foil as shown by the dashed lines in the figure. As you pinch the corners raise the edges of the foil so that they form sides to the boat. Make sure that the hole is at the water line.
  4. Place the small piece of camphor in the boat so that it covers the hole. Water must contact the camphor so that it dissolves.
The camphor boat is complete! Place it in the kitchen sink and as the camphor dissolves it should move forward. Make sure there is no wind because it can be hard to tell if it is the camphor or the wind that is making the boat move.

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Last modified: Fri Mar 20 15:12:15 1998
©  Malcolm Goris   <mgoris@nfra.nl>