Penny Boat Challenge
Competitors are working to determine whether the shape of a boat can affect how much
weight it holds
– specifically, a foil boat holding pennies!
RULES:
• Work individually or in groups of 2-3.
• Each will be given a square of aluminum foil (size 8" by 8") and a certain number
of pennies.
• Groups/Individuals are to construct a boat out of the foil to hold as many pennies
as possible
without sinking. Each boat will be made from only one of the foil squares.
• Boats will be tested in a tub of water, one penny at a time. The boat must float
for five seconds
before that penny addition is counted as successful.
• Water entering the boat or the boat touching the bottom of the tub is considered
sinking.
• The last penny added before the sinking doesn’t count toward the penny total.
• The group with the most pennies wins!
It is suggested that groups sketch out ideas.
