#STEMtechnology: Pop Pop Boat

I recently got intrigued by a video on YouTube that popped up on my recommended about an old toy you could buy called a Pop Pop Boat. I ed this amino specifically to document my tests and builds with it since I have nowhere else to share this with.

The idea is really simple, you fill up the boiler and exhaust with water leaving no air and use a candle to heat up a boiler, the expanding water then creates propulsion.

I also colored the different parts corresponding to the letters

A: boiler

B: candle/ candle holder

C: exhaust

D: Boat

Why it works:

As the candle heats up the boiler the water reaches boiling point, the water then expands as a vapor and pushes the boat forward.

As the vapor reaches the bottom of the boat the cold water from under cools the vapor and creates a negative pressure which pulls the water just lost back into the boiler.

The water comes back to the boiler which is already at boiling point and immediately turns to vapor again.

At first the boat sputters and doesn’t move but after getting a rhythm a 5-6 inch boat can travel up to 2mph which isn’t bad for some tin and a candle.

(Edit): I forgot to mention, if you’re wondering why there’s two exhausts in diagram B it’s to make it easier to fill the boiler with water and get rid of any extra air in the tubes, as well as create more propulsion

#STEMtechnology