The local pool is closed for the afternoon as Tripod prepares his science-fair project. Dr. J had refused to give him a specific idea in the belief that students should come up with their own. For Dr. J to completely outline the project would put Tripod one leg up on everyone else. (Tripod had argued that, in his case, that would just balance things out.) Finally, after howling all night, Tripod squeezed at least a hint from his master. "Why not study the side-effects of dumping things in the water?" Dr. J said. So here is Tripod, on a float, ready to drop an anchor in the middle of the pool - maybe not what Dr. J has in mind, but unique enough to make a big splash in the competition. The pool is 10 meters long and 8 meters wide.