How to Build a Boat That Floats
Building a boat that floats out of everyday materials is a staple experiment in grade school science classes. It's also a popular experiment for home-schoolers, and can be carried out by even the smallest of children if parents are available and willing to help. The key to understanding why boats float, is the concept of buoyancy.
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Instructions
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Divide the fist-sized ball of clay into two equal pieces. Squeeze one piece into a compact ball. Craft the other piece of clay into a boat shape that's wider than it's tall.
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Place both pieces of clay in the water. The compact ball will sink, but the boat shaped clay should float. This is because since it covers more area of the water, it pushes against the water more and the water pushes back, holding it up.
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Adjust the boat shape so that you get a feel for how much area it must cover in order to float. If you compress it too much it'll sink; the wider you make it, the more weight you'd be able to add in it and have it continue to float.
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Duplicate these principles with any material of your choice. Even metal will float if it displaces, pushes against, enough water. If the boat you make sinks it's because it's too tall or not wide enough; adjust accordingly.
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Tips & Warnings
Tipping over is another flaw that makes boats sink. Consider adding a keel. A crease down the length of the boat from front to bank to help stabilize the boat. You can also lower its height, because tall boats have a higher center of gravity and are thus more likely to tip over. Your boat may stop floating eventually, or not carry as much weight, if you make it out of a material that absorbs water. Items like styrofoam that cover a lot of area but aren't heavy are especially good for creating buoyancy.
