In this project we were assigned the task to make the most complex machine to complete the simplest task. That task was to cut down a “tree.” My group and I came up with the idea to cut down a tree by brainstorming some theme ideas. After throwing all the themes out there we settled on the jungle theme. Next we each sketched out our own machines. We looked at each others machines and made a simple blueprint of our final machine with all of our ideas.
Now it was time to get work. We had a slow start only making half of the first step on our first build day out of 10. As the build days went by we got more and more done each day until we completed all 10 steps. On the ninth day we roughly finished a working machine and started to look for errors and fix them. Then by the 10th day we had consist machine.
After building our machines we had to make a presentation for rube goldberg night. We started by calculating physics for ten steps. Then we found four energy transfers. Finally we made the final blueprint and construction log. We thought up a presentation, ran through it a couple times and the project was over.
Now it was time to get work. We had a slow start only making half of the first step on our first build day out of 10. As the build days went by we got more and more done each day until we completed all 10 steps. On the ninth day we roughly finished a working machine and started to look for errors and fix them. Then by the 10th day we had consist machine.
After building our machines we had to make a presentation for rube goldberg night. We started by calculating physics for ten steps. Then we found four energy transfers. Finally we made the final blueprint and construction log. We thought up a presentation, ran through it a couple times and the project was over.
Our machine in action
What are the steps
Step One:
A marble is blown down a tube that is a screw.
Step Two:
The marble transfers it kinetic energy into a weight. The weight falls decreasing potential energy and gaining kinetic energy.
Step Three:
The weight transfers it's kinetic energy into a 1 inch thick board. The board then transfers the kinetic energy from the weight into a 200g weight.
Step Four:
The 200g weight falls downward transferring potential energy into kinetic energy.
Step Five:
The force downward from the weight downward pulls a rope that goes through a pulley to pull a nail.
Step Six:
The nail gets pulled out of a piece of floor board which releases a toy truck.
Step Seven:
The truck is guided down a incline plane transferring its potential energy into kinetic energy.
Step Eight:
The truck transfers it's kinetic energy into a 500g weight. This is an elastic collision.
Step Nine:
The 500g weight falls making a 4.9N force downward.
Step Ten:
The 4.9N force is transferred through a pulley pulling up a water bottle that requires 2.4N of force to lift.
Step Eleven:
Water falls down the incline plane which then spins a water wheel.
Step Twelve:
The water wheel pulls on a string that pulls down two weights.
Step Thirteen:
The weights fall pulling up a nail. The nail releases the spring loaded lever (axe).
Step Fourteen:
The lever hits a stick (tree) which then gets knocked over.
A marble is blown down a tube that is a screw.
Step Two:
The marble transfers it kinetic energy into a weight. The weight falls decreasing potential energy and gaining kinetic energy.
Step Three:
The weight transfers it's kinetic energy into a 1 inch thick board. The board then transfers the kinetic energy from the weight into a 200g weight.
Step Four:
The 200g weight falls downward transferring potential energy into kinetic energy.
Step Five:
The force downward from the weight downward pulls a rope that goes through a pulley to pull a nail.
Step Six:
The nail gets pulled out of a piece of floor board which releases a toy truck.
Step Seven:
The truck is guided down a incline plane transferring its potential energy into kinetic energy.
Step Eight:
The truck transfers it's kinetic energy into a 500g weight. This is an elastic collision.
Step Nine:
The 500g weight falls making a 4.9N force downward.
Step Ten:
The 4.9N force is transferred through a pulley pulling up a water bottle that requires 2.4N of force to lift.
Step Eleven:
Water falls down the incline plane which then spins a water wheel.
Step Twelve:
The water wheel pulls on a string that pulls down two weights.
Step Thirteen:
The weights fall pulling up a nail. The nail releases the spring loaded lever (axe).
Step Fourteen:
The lever hits a stick (tree) which then gets knocked over.
What are the Physics.
- Mass is represented in kilograms. Mass is anything that takes up space. Sometimes people confuse mass with weight. Weight is a force due to gravity. Everything in our project had mass.
- Velocity is how long it takes and object to cover distance. We calculate velocity by change in distance over change in time. Velocity is directional based on what you set forward and backward as. Every moving object in our project had velocity like the marble.
- Acceleration is the change of velocity over time. Acceleration can be positive acceleration (speeding up) or negative (slowing down).
- Force is how much push or pull is on an object. Force is calculated by multiplying and objects mass by its acceleration. Force is represented in Newtons.
- Potential Energy is how much energy and object has based how far it is away from the earth. Potential energy is represented in newton meters or joules.
- Kinetic Energy is how much energy an object has when in motion. Every time an object moved in our project it had kinetic energy. Kinetic energy can be gained by and object falling converting it's potential energy to kinetic.
- Pulley is the most common simple machine we used in our project. A pulley works by redirecting a downward force to and upward force. The more pulleys you add the bigger mechanical advantage you have.
- Mechanical advantage is way to make something easier. A mechanical advantage requires less force to lift the same mass but you have to apply that less force over a longer period.
Construction Log
Day One: Got materials. Made a project base out of plywood. Decided where to put the steps
Day Two: Made "Tree" for step one. Bent a plastic tube around the tree for the marble to roll down. Connected the tube. Added wood at the end of tube to hold weight that marble would hit.
Day Three: Added wood at the top of plywood for step 2. Added screw to a robe to make a swing. Added the weight to the swing.
Day Four: Added a pulley for step 4. Attached a weight and nail to pulley. Added a piece of wood to transfer energy for step 2 weight to step 3 weight.
Day Five. Built ramp for step 5 and attached it. Added a platform at the end of the ramp.
Day Six: Added weight to truck. Added tube to guide the truck down ramp. Put nail from step for in the ramp to hold the truck at the top of the ramp.
Day Seven: Added 500g weight to the platform at the end of step 5. connected the weight to a pulley. Made a machine to hold water jug. attached the pulley to the water jug lifting machine.
Day Eight: Made a waterway for the water coming out of the jug. Put a tub under waterway. Put a water wheel in front of waterway and over tub.
Day Nine: Attached a string to water wheel. Made a platform for two weights. Attached water wheel to weights. Attached weights to pulley.
Day Ten. Attached a nail to the pulley. Made a spring loaded axe. Drilled hole for nail to hold axe in place. Made a tree for axe to cut. Made final adjustments.
Day Two: Made "Tree" for step one. Bent a plastic tube around the tree for the marble to roll down. Connected the tube. Added wood at the end of tube to hold weight that marble would hit.
Day Three: Added wood at the top of plywood for step 2. Added screw to a robe to make a swing. Added the weight to the swing.
Day Four: Added a pulley for step 4. Attached a weight and nail to pulley. Added a piece of wood to transfer energy for step 2 weight to step 3 weight.
Day Five. Built ramp for step 5 and attached it. Added a platform at the end of the ramp.
Day Six: Added weight to truck. Added tube to guide the truck down ramp. Put nail from step for in the ramp to hold the truck at the top of the ramp.
Day Seven: Added 500g weight to the platform at the end of step 5. connected the weight to a pulley. Made a machine to hold water jug. attached the pulley to the water jug lifting machine.
Day Eight: Made a waterway for the water coming out of the jug. Put a tub under waterway. Put a water wheel in front of waterway and over tub.
Day Nine: Attached a string to water wheel. Made a platform for two weights. Attached water wheel to weights. Attached weights to pulley.
Day Ten. Attached a nail to the pulley. Made a spring loaded axe. Drilled hole for nail to hold axe in place. Made a tree for axe to cut. Made final adjustments.
Reflection
I had a really fun time doing this project. I got to do something I love doing building stuff. During this project I really improved on two things, Leadership and presenting. For leadership I really learned that I can’t do everything and that I have to use the team. In the past on group projects when I took the lead I would usually do the whole project and not let anyone else do anything. But this project I learned to use the team to work towards our end goal and if someone was unsure on what to do I would tell them what needs to be done and let them work on that. Also I improved on presenting more. Usually during presentation I would not speak up and tell everyone things about the project but this time I really tried to present more of the project and succeed. During this project I also suffered on two things. The first thing was being to controlling and not letting people share their ideas. As the build days came to near and more pressure to finish I would often tell people what to do. Another thing I need to improve on for next project is having steps for simple and not trying to over complicate things. After doing everything in this project I am really happy with out end result and would love to do it again.