Saltwater, Electricity, and Motion: A Lorentz-Driven Boat

30.04.2025

In this project, two 11-year-olds constructed a boat that uses electrolysis and the Lorentz force to move through saltwater. When electrical current was passed through the saltwater solution (NaCl dissolved in H₂O), the water molecules were split, producing hydrogen gas and chlorine gas at the electrodes. The hydrogen served as a potential energy source, while the movement of charged particles through the magnetic field created a force—known as the Lorentz force—that propelled the boat. The experiment cleverly combined basic electrochemistry with electromagnetism to create a working model of physical principles. It also highlighted the importance of safety when dealing with reactive byproducts like chlorine gas.