3D Printed Paddle and Balloon Powered Boat.

myminifactory

This product is ment to be an educational toy that would help children learn about energy storage and its use to propel objects forward. This is a combination of rubber band powered paddle boat and a baloon powered boat. The rubber band stores the energy imparted to it during the initial winding of the paddle connected to the rubber band (Elastic Potential Energy). When the boat is palced in the water, the rubber band unwinds in the opposite direction- rotating the paddle which in turn propels the boat forward. This is an great example to teach kids about the concept of repeatable mechanical deformation. Addition to this, the boat also consists of secondary propelling system (The balloon attachement). An inflated ballon can be attached to the top part of the 'L' shaped booster located at the stern of the boat. This attachement helps redirect the escaping air from the balloon in the horizontaldirection which in turn will push the boat in the opposite direction (Newton's 3rd law of motion). There is no similar commercially available product that consists both the paddle and the balloon attachements. The two different boats (1. Paddle powered, 2. Balloon powered) costs aroud 18$ in total commercially.  This 3D printed product costs around ~11$ and has a total weight of 81g.