Im working on my school project?

Question

my school project is build a boat that can carry maximum weight and sail perfectly in water.....so anyone have any idea how am i going to build this boat using only this items...:straw,,,tabletennis ball,,,polystrene,,,cellofan tape???and maybe there is some other that i forgot..your help mean a lot to me

Answer 1

If it is to carry max weight and sail perfectly it needs to be very buoyant.  So using something strong but light and not affected by water is best.  The tennis ball will float but will not be very stable for carrying weight.  The polystyrene, if in the form of expanded polystyrene foam, looks best.  

A home store like Lowes will carry sheets of this stuff (rigid sheets used for insulation).  You can make a boat out of that and seal it very carefully with the cellophane tape.

Answer 2

I don't know how big of a boat your building.  Is it a toy boat?  Is it a boat that has to carry a certain weight?  Just remember  the most buoyant things go furthest out.  Poly floats high. as do the pin pong balls.  For stability. and even sailing. You may want to put pin holes on each end of the ping pong balls and fill them 1/3 to 1/2 full of water. and seal the holes with the tape or glue.  Plastic glue should work.  That will help the tipsy thing Put them in the center taped together, and the Styrofoam on the out side.  It will not sail as fast, but will be very stable.  Pending on the weight of the load, will dictate the amount of water to put in the balls.  Wide is good, but to wide will ruin the ability to sail. Experiment, and you'll do alright.