The Nifty Lifting Machine

In this Chapter Project, you will design and build a lifting machine and then demonstrate it to the class.

Your Goal

To design, build, and test a complex machine that can lift a 400-gram load 5 centimeters using only 100-grams as your input force

Your machine must

  • Be made of materials that are approved by your teacher
  • Consist of at least two different types of simple machines working in combination to lift the load
  • Be able to lift the 400g load to a height of at least 5 centimeters
  • Include an8 ½ x 11(notebook paper) sized diagram showing an illustration of your machine, theideal mechanical advantages of each of the simple machines (include measurements in cm), and the ideal and actual mechanicaladvantages of your machine as a whole.

Project Rules

  • The load can is a soup/coffee can, filled with 400g of sand/pennies/marbles/ect. You can lift the can from below, or you can lift it from above using string, or you can pull it from the side.
  • The input can is identical to the load can except that it will be empty. When you demonstrate your project, you will fill it with no more than 100g of sand/pennies/marbles/ect until the load can has been raised 5 cm.
  • The distance the load must be RAISED is 5 cm, measuring from the lowest point of the load before and after the device is used.This means that if you are pulling up a ramp, it still needs to go 5 cm VERTICALLY from the lowest point.
  • Your device must contain a combination of at least two different types of simple machines to help lift the load.This means that using wheels on a car to reduce friction or a screw to hold pieces of wood together does not count!
  • Imaginary walls extend upward from a 1-meter square area in which your device must be able to sit. You need to design your device with this size limitation in mind. No taller, wider or longer than 1 meter!
  • Exercise caution when building your device to prevent injuries. Always ask an adult for assistance if you are using any type of power tool.
  • You must create a diagram (no larger than a piece of notebook paper) thatillustrates the following:
  • A title
  • A neat and colorful drawing ofyour machine
  • Theideal mechanical advantage of each simple machine
  • Include measurements in centimeters used to calculate the ideal mechanical advantages
  • The idealmechanical advantages of your machine as a whole
  • The actual mechanical advantage of your machine with measurements of input and output masses.
  • To calculate the ideal mechanical advantage of a compound machine, multiply the ideal mechanical advantages of each of its simple machines.
  • To calculate the actual mechanical advantage of a compound machine, divide the output force (the weight put inside the heavier can) by the input force (weight put inside the lighter can).
  • The project with the greatest actual mechanical advantage will get 5 pts extra credit.
  • Projects that use more than 2 simple machines will get 5 pts for each additional machine used.
  • When you present your project, you will describe how the machine works, reference your diagram to explain its mechanical advantage, and then demonstrate your machine.
  • You cannot use any form of electricity or magnetism to power your machine – the only thing that will make the 400g rise, is the force provided from the 100g that you put into the machine.
  • You must make your project work! Even if you need to use more than 100g to lift the 400g (you will loose some points for this), you must make it work!

Suggested Materials

  • You will need materials to build your device. Some possibilities include wood scraps of all sizes, cardboard and plastic tubes, nails and screws, coat hangers, straws, spools, cups, cans, wire, toy wheels, toy cars, string, paper clips and cardboard. You can use other materials but must ask your teacher’s permission first.
  • You do not need to purchase a lot of the materials needed…look around your home for things you can use! Pulleys can be made from spools of thread or rolls of tape!
  • You may want to use sand paper or light lubricating oil to improve the efficiency of your device.

Project Hints

  • Before designing your device, you will need to get some ideas. Look at the machines around you to see how simple machines are used to perform simple tasks.
  • Before you start building, draw diagrams of several different designs.
  • Consult your textbook and notes to learn how you might improve the device by changing the length of a lever, by adding a pulley, or by changing the angle of a plane.
  • The simple machines that you should be using can include inclined planes, wheel and axles, levers, and pulleys (you will not be able to use wedges or screws to help you lift the 400g).
  • If you cannot measure out exactly 100 g and 400 g, you can use a 4 to 1 ratio of any weights.

This project will count as TWO test grades and will be due on

February 8, 2012

This project was assigned on January 24, 2012

Parent Signature due by January 26, 2012

______

Project Deadlines:

Parent SignatureJanuary 26, 2012

Partner AgreementJanuary 26, 2012

Preliminary Design SketchJanuary 30, 2012

Second Sketch with

materials and measurementsFebruary 2, 2012

Completed Machine with

finalized diagram including

measurements and calculations February 8, 2012

The Nifty Lifting Machine

Agreement for Projects Done by Two or Three Students

I am requesting permission to work with one or two other students, of my own choice, to complete the Nifty Lifting Machine project.

I fully understand and agree to the following:

It is my responsibility, along with that of my project partner(s), to appropriately meet to plan and finish the project.

Once approved, this is an irrevocable commitment. I cannot back out, and I must see the project through.

My partner’s involvement will affect my grade, because all project partners will receive the same grade on all components of the project.

My partner(s)’s name(s) is/are: ______

______

______

My Signature Date

Parental Agreement:

Having discussed the above requirements with my child, I support his/her decision to complete the Nifty Lifting Machine project in partnership with the classmate(s) named above.

______

My Parent’s Signature Date

***This is due back no later than January 26, 2012***

Rubric for grading

4 / 3 / 2 / 1
MachineBuilding / Student follows all Project Rules, and work shows evidence of having thoroughly tested and modified the machine. 25 pts / Student follows most of the Project Rules, and work shows evidence of having tested and modified the machine. 19 pts / Student follows some of the Project Rules, and work shows evidence of having tested and modified the machine. 13 pts / Student did not follow many of the Project Rules, and work shows little evidence of having tested and modified the machine. 7 pts
Appearance/Creativity / Machine looks very neat and professional; student use of materials and design is extraordinarily creative. 25 pts / Machine looks neat and professional; student use of materials and design is very creative. 19 pts / Machine looks somewhat neat and professional; student use of materials and design is creative. 13 pts / Machine does not look neat or professional; student use of materials and design is not very creative. 7 pts
Diagram / Sketch of machine is neat, colorful, and includes all of the following: a title, an illustration of the machine, accurate ideal and actual mechanical advantages,measurements for each simple machine, input and output masses, and individual simple machine mechanical advantages 25 pts / Sketch of machine is somewhat neat, colorful, or includes all but one of the following: a title, an illustration of the machine, accurate idealand actual mechanical advantage, measurements for each simple machine,input and output masses, and individual simple machine mechanical advantages19 pts / Sketch of machine is somewhat neat, colorful, and/or includes all but two of the following: a title, an illustration of the machine, accurate idealand actual mechanical advantage, measurements for each simple machine, input and output masses, and individual simple machine mechanical advantages 13 pts / Sketch of machine is not neat, or colorful, and is missing more than two of the following a title, an illustration of the machine, accurate ideal and actual mechanical advantage,measurements for each simple machine, input and output masses, and individual simple machine mechanical advantages7 pts
Project Presentation/ Demonstration / Presentation is thorough and well organized. Student communicates all appropriated features of the machine. Machine lifts the load 5 cm with a Mechanical Advantage of 4 or more. 25 pts / Presentation is adequate. Student communicates most features of the machine. Machine lifts the load 5 cm with a Mechanical Advantage between 3.0 and 3.9.
19 pts / Presentation appropriate, but is hard to follow. Student communicates some of the features of the machine. Machine lifts the load 5 cm with a Mechanical Advantage between 2.0 and 2.9. 13 pts / Presentation is inappropriate and hard to follow. Student communicates a few features of the machine. Machine does not lift the load 5 cm or has a Mechanical Advantage of 1.9 or less. 7 pts

Final Grade______