4
Bucket Vortex
Due December 2, 2008
Report Due December 6, 2008
Team Members and report arrangement by:
Nate Best
Andrew Milstead
Josh McCullough
Justin Shelton
Abstract
The experiment at hand was to create a roller coaster to provide a 15 second run for the cart used. It was assigned as the final project for the semester and was a large part of our overall grade. The problem at hand was to use a budget under $40 and use and materials we need for the coaster and cart. We decided to use materials from a tool warehouse to make our coaster. We figured that a bucket with a spiral cord would make an excellent design. The acceleration was constant with our design and it helped to figure out how to make the length exactly 15 seconds. We, as a team, discovered that a small ball bearing would be the most useful for the cord and bucket used. As long as the change in height of the cord was uniform all the way down, the calculations would not be all that difficult. Our main problem was time constraints with team members and as always time management. After several ideas that brought flaws to the coaster, the final design ran the same every single time and worked accordingly to plans.
Introduction
The number one objective of the final project was to create a presentation that described and displayed our roller coaster. Since it was a semi-formal presentation, we needed to dress accordingly and describe our project as if it was being shown to a future co-worker or boss.
Design Process/ Device
In our first couple of meetings we took most of the time to come up with a final product. We went to Home Depot and looked around for multiple ideas and components for the project. After we found our base for the coaster, all we needed was a tube and that was obtained at Home Depot. Our expenses stayed very low and the total cost was $12. We met up one evening to make the Bucket Vortex and brought our ideas together to make a precise run.
The tubing was wound around the inside of the bucket, decreasing in height by 1 inch each quarter revolution (4 inches each rev.). The tubing was held in by zip-ties and an outlet was cut into the bucket at the 15-second point. It took the help of all four team members to construct the coaster. The plastic tubing used wasn’t as malleable as we thought so it took a couple of us to keep it in position as we drilled holes in the bucket.
Results
The device ran really simple. The energy of the system was all potential energy in the beginning and then changed to all kinetic at the very bottom. PE= mgh is the equation for potential energy at the top. Our ball was 10g or 0.01kg. The height of our coaster was 0.441m so the equation stood as….
PE= (.01kg)(9.81m/s2)(.441m)
PE= 0.0433 J
To find final kinetic energy, we used the equation KE= (0.5)mv2. Since we know that all the initial potential energy was changed to kinetic at the bottom, we found our final velocity to be somewhere around 2.943 m/s if we neglected friction.
0.0433J= (0.5)(0.01kg)v2
v= 2.943 m/s
The friction that the tube applied definitely altered the final velocity. The tubing had ridges on the inside so the bearing just “skidded” the whole way down. All in all our coaster ran exactly 15 seconds during the presentation and our calculations were correct.
Conclusions
After many attempts at a final product, our “Bucket Vortex” seemed to be the most plausible. The simple yet effective design provided an easy set up. The manipulations to make it 15 seconds were not difficult either due to the design process in the beginning. We made it possible to change the design and cut/ add lengths to the tubing. Most members were present at meetings and we did construction at Josh’s warehouse as stated earlier. Our grouped worked very well together and we agree that each of us had outstanding ideas. If nothing else, the project was a success and it really helped us to prepare for the world of engineering.