The device’s purpose was to pop a balloon. It starts with a marble falling down a ramp and landing onto another ramp. Then the marble went down the second ramp, eventually falling onto a set mousetrap, triggering the trap that pulled a string. The string’s purpose was holding a stopper beneath another marble, so once the string was pulled the second marble was set loose and it was taken down a ramp with gravity being the only force acting on it. After the marble traveled the course of the ramp it was launched from the ramp, eventually colliding with a Styrofoam stopper, guiding it then into a tube that allowed the ball to fall onto another set mousetrap. Then the activated trap sets off yet another trap which is located directly behind it. The second trap had a small wooden stick with 2 thumb tacks driven through it; allow the hammer like motion to pop the balloon which is situated on the Styrofoam stopper. This device completes its simple task accurately and efficiently, providing the same effect time after time again.
We were initially given the design criteria for the project. From here, we brainstormed many different devices that could achieve a task using the required three energy conversions. These ideas included using loops and ramps, launching projectiles, mousetraps, and ending the process with a balloon being popped. After much heated debate, the team decided on only one balloon to be popped rather than the initial idea of three balloons being popped. We established that the finished product would contain ramps, mousetraps, and a balloon. The three energy conversions we were aiming for initially included potential energy, kinetic energy, and center of mass. The potential energy conversion would be placed in step one in a small ball rolling down ramps. The kinetic energy conversion would also be found in step one whenever the ball was rolling. The center of mass conversion would have been found in the initial idea of using three balloons and levers. Once that idea was thrown out, we decided on a second potential energy conversion with a large ramp.
For phase one, we used a masonite backboard, 15 inch long 2 inch thick PVC pipe, mousetrap, 3 gram marble, string, and foam board. The PVC pipe was halved and angled to create two ramps the small marble would roll down into the mousetrap that was placed next to a fabricated foam board dish. Attached to the mouse trap, was string that pulled a gate and released a 15 gram marble when the mouse trap was activated by the first marble. This procedure begins phase two.
Phase two consists of a 3 inch wide and 8 inch long PVC chamber with a 3 inch diameter piece of wood, 40 inch long balsa wood ramp with wooden supports, and a 3 foot by 2 foot masonite backboard. Once the wooden gate was pulled, the 15 gram marble fell vertically down the ramp and launched off the 55 degree slope section of the ramp. Here begins phase 3.
Phase 3 consists of Styrofoam blocks, junk plastic tubing, two mouse traps glued to a 9 inch to 12 inch masonite board, a skewer with two inserted tacks, and a balloon. Phase 3 begins when the in-flight marble is caught by the Styrofoam block and diverted down the plastic tube. The marble falls directly onto the first mousetrap. The second mousetrap is placed adjacent to the first mousetrap and has the skewer with inserted tacks mounted on it. The holding pin of the first mouse trap is released and hits the target area of the second mousetrap. When the second mousetrap is activated, it swings the skewer into the balloon mounted on the Styrofoam block, thus completing the task.
The balloon popper consisted of the following materials and these prices:
- Wood $7.00
- Mouse Traps $1.00
- Glue/ Tape $1.00
- Styrofoam $0.85
- Marbles $2.00
- Balloons $0.25
- PVC $1.29
- String/ Rubber Bands $0.21
- Tac’s $0.74
Total $14.34
In doing this project, we encountered many problems and learned different things. At first, we had the problem of the first marble flying off into the floor after it hit the mouse trap. We decided to make a holder for the marble that would catch the marble after it hit the mouse trap. Also, we had the problem of how to catch the second marble, and make it hit the second mouse trap. We found a piece of Styrofoam, and carved out a funnel that would direct the marble straight down onto the second mousetrap. We eventually learned to not make the project to complicated, and that it could still be interesting if we took a couple of things out. If we had to do it again, we wouldn’t do anything different, except make it look a little bit better. Overall, we were very happy with our project, and we had a lot of fun.