Andrew Pace
Pop-pop boats are a type of boat engine that uses a simple coil or a more complex pop-pop mechanism. They work by sucking in water and then expelling it, which creates a reciprocal mechanism that moves the boat forward. The momentum of the water moving in and out of the boat moves the water outside the boat, creating a net thrust.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Engine type | Simple heat engine, sometimes referred to as a pulsating water engine |
| Engine components | Boiler and one or more exhaust tubes |
| Power source | Candle or vegetable oil burner |
| Propulsion | Oscillation of water in the tubes ejects water out of the exhaust tubes in pulses |
| Exhaust tubes | Water is expelled from both tubes during the first phase of the cycle, and drawn in from both tubes during the second phase |
| Materials | Commercial pop pop boats are usually made out of tinplate, while homemade ones are often made out of wood |
| Hull material | Any material that floats |
| Tube variables | Length, diameter, whether or not the flame is shielded |
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What You'll Learn
- The pop-pop boat doesn't move because of ejecting water in one direction like a rocket
- The pop-pop boat moves forward because the in-flowing water imparts its momentum to the air in the tubes
- The pop-pop boat's movement cancels out the reverse momentum of the in-flowing water
- The pop-pop boat's engine is made from copper pipe
- The pop-pop boat's engine is difficult to seal
The pop-pop boat doesn't move because of ejecting water in one direction like a rocket
The mechanism of a normal boat moves the water on the outside of the boat, and thus it gains thrust. The pop-pop boat works in a similar way, except the "mechanical parts" moving the water on the outside are themselves out of the water. The water moving in and out of the pop-pop boat moves the water outside the boat, resulting in a net movement of water outside the boat. This net movement of water creates a thrust that propels the boat forward.
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The pop-pop boat moves forward because the in-flowing water imparts its momentum to the air in the tubes
The pop-pop boat doesn't push anything from the inside to the outside, but still, it moves forward. This is because the mechanism of the boat forces the water on the outside of the boat to move, and thus it gains thrust. The water moving in and out will move the water outside the boat, resulting in a net movement of water outside the boat.
The pop-pop boat's movement can be compared to that of a normal boat. A normal boat doesn't push anything from the inside to the outside, but it still moves forward. The "mechanical parts" moving the water on the outside are themselves out of water.
The pop-pop boat's movement can be further explained by considering the cone-shaped wave coming from the boat. This implies that there is a net backward movement of the water, which enforces the statement that the boat moves forward due to the in-flowing water imparting its momentum to the air in the tubes.
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The pop-pop boat's movement cancels out the reverse momentum of the in-flowing water
The pop-pop boat doesn't move because of ejecting water in one direction like a rocket continuously, as it sucks the water back which pulls the pop-pop boat back, so it is a reciprocal mechanism. The pop-pop boat moves forward because the in-flowing water imparts its momentum to the air in the tubes which are part of the system boat. This cancels out the reverse momentum of the in-flowing water.
The pop-pop boat's movement is a result of the water moving in and out, which causes the water outside the boat to move in a way that creates a net thrust. This is similar to the mechanism of any normal boat, which does a movement that forces water on the outside of the boat to move, and thus it gains thrust. The only difference is that in the case of the pop-pop boat, the "mechanical parts" moving the water on the outside are themselves out of the water.
The pop-pop boat's movement can be explained by the principle of conservation of momentum. The momentum of the water entering the boat is transferred to the boat itself, causing it to move forward. At the same time, the boat's movement cancels out the reverse momentum of the in-flowing water, preventing it from slowing down or stopping.
The pop-pop boat's unique design allows it to harness the power of the water's momentum and convert it into forward motion. By utilising the reciprocal mechanism of water intake and outflow, the boat is able to maintain its momentum and move forward efficiently. This innovative design showcases the creative application of physics principles in a fun and functional way.
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The pop-pop boat's engine is made from copper pipe
The pop-pop boat engine is made from copper pipe. The copper pipe is coiled and both ends are placed in the water. The middle of the tube is heated, which causes a small amount of water to flash into steam, forcing the rest of the water out of the back of the tube and propelling the boat forward. This is known as Newton's law of thrust. The vacuum created within the tube then draws in more water and the cycle repeats. The copper pipe can be bent around a small pulley or a 1/2-inch diameter wooden dowel held in a vice. The ends of the exhaust pipes are then bent and passed through holes in the boat, with the openings facing backwards.
The pop-pop boat engine is a simple heat engine that can be easily made at home. The boat is propelled forward by the movement of water in and out of the engine, which creates a net thrust. This is different from a normal boat, which moves forward by pushing water from the inside to the outside. The pop-pop boat engine also creates a unique sound, known as the "pop-pop" sound, which is caused by the water being forced out of the tube.
The copper pipe used for the engine can vary in size, but it is typically around 2 mm in external diameter and 0.5 meters long. It is important to calculate the size of the copper pipe based on the working engine boiler size to tube cross-sectional area ratios. The copper pipe should also be slightly concave or convex so that it can reverse with a pop when there is a change in pressure. This can be tested by applying gentle air pressure and suction through the exit pipes.
Overall, the pop-pop boat engine is a simple yet effective design that uses the properties of copper and water to create a self-propelled boat.
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The pop-pop boat's engine is difficult to seal
The pop-pop boat engine is difficult to seal because of the way it is designed. The engine is made up of copper pipes and tubes, with holes drilled into the bottom for the tubes to be put in. The ends of the pipes are crimped and brased, and the tubes are sealed with epoxy resin. However, this does not always work and leaks can occur.
One reason for this may be that the weight of the ball bearings is too much, meaning that the energy taken to open or close a valve is roughly the same as the energy taken to move the boat forward, leaving little energy for propulsion.
Another reason could be that the boiler has a steel diaphragm, which makes the engine sound cool but is very difficult to seal and frequently blows a seal.
Sometimes, the cause of the leak remains a mystery and the only solution is to make another engine.
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Frequently asked questions
A pop-pop boat moves forward because the in-flowing water imparts its momentum to the air in the tubes, which cancels out the reverse momentum of the in-flowing water.
A normal boat moves forward because the mechanical parts moving the water on the outside are themselves out of the water.
The pop-pop boat doesn't move because of ejecting water in one direction like a rocket continuously, as it sucks the water back which pulls the pop-pop boat back, so it is a reciprocal mechanism.
When moving inwards, the boat pulls some water with it, but mostly not from behind, but from all other sides, and thus there's a net thrust.
Apply gentle air pressure and suction, by mouth, through the exit pipes.
