Question

How to Make Submarines

Answer 1

How to Make Submarines
Making a submarine is not as hard as one might think. It is easy to create a submarine using items from around the house. They can be a great summer or weekend project for kids of just about any age and are also great for the classroom. This is a fairly simple and easy-to-make model of a submarine designed to show how a submarine works through the use of buoyancy and ballast. This functions by the introduction of water or air into the submarine.

Required Materials
Empty bottle - 16 or 20 oz (soda and water bottles work great for this)
3 wide rubber bands
24 pennies
Tape
Aluminum foil
A flex neck straw
Large tub of water
Required Tools
Scissors
Drill
Punch
Instructions
First, use a drill to create a hole within the bottle cap that is large enough to pass the straw through.
Cut three holes into the side of the bottle. These can be punched, or cut. They should be done at equal intervals down the side of the bottle.
Take the pennies
Create 3 stacks of pennies. Stack 1 should have 4 pennies, stack 2 will need eight and stack three will need 12 pennies
Take aluminum foil
Wrap each stack of pennies tightly in the foil and set the stacks aside. You can also create these prior to the start of the project.
Take one rubber band and position it next too, but not covering one of the three holes made in the bottle
Repeat step 7 with the other two rubber bands
Take the stack of four pennies and place it under the rubber band next to the hole which is closest to the mouth of the bottle
Take the stack of eight pennies and place it under the next rubber band down from the mouth of the bottle
Take the stack of 12 pennies and place it under the rubber band that is farthest from the mouth of the bottle.
Each one of the stacks should be positioned so that the rubber bands are holding them to the side of the bottle
Take the straw
Place the short end of the straw into the hole made earlier within the bottle cap.
Re-attach the bottle cap to the bottle
Tape the straw to the bottle cap. Make sure to tape the straw in a flexed and upright position
Place your submarine into water.
Use the straw to blow air into the submarine. This should make it float by pressing the water out through the holes.
Tips and Warnings
Make sure that weights are not placed directly over the holes in the bottle. It is important to let water into the submarine.

Use waterproof tape to help maintain the integrity of the straw and opening

Test the straw for any holes within the flexible portion of the straw since these commonly occur.