Chain Reaction Contraption

This weekend I finished my project. I had to change the goal of the contraption from opening a can of soda to turning on a light. I’m all ready done with 2 weeks to spare!

-Angelena

             This weekend I am finally going to start building my contraption. This week I had to make another blue print of my contraption because my dad (he is helping me with this project) said that most of it was too hard and we couldn’t make it. We have almost all of the materials and I am hoping to get the majority of it done this weekend. Only a few weeks until its due so I have to get to work!!

-Angelena

          Today (or Friday, or Saturday, or Sunday…) my dad and I are going to the store. I have to improve my idea because my dad says that it wouldn’t work so we are going to try and think of what we can do. After I finish my English project (due the 31st) I am going to work day (when I get home from school) and night to get it done.
         I am still trying to decide if I am going to paint it. It would take longer to get done but the end result (might) be better. What do you think?

-Angelena

The first step in my designing process is to make a rough draft of my contraption. I started making a rough draft but I realized that it was too complicated. Today I am going to work on a better, less complicated idea.

Step one…….. FINISHED!!

-Angelena

The first step in my designing process is to make a rough draft of my contraption. I started making a rough draft but I realized that it was too complicated. Today I am going to work on a better, less complicated idea. I don’t really have that many details on my project right now. Goodbye for now!

                      -Angelena

Question 1 was ‘What are the five best contraptions of this type you can find on the web? Feel free to include sites, pictures, and videos?’

Here are the 5 best I could find

1.http://coilhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/LifeSizeMousetrap.jpg

2.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3jDu6gVosA

3. http://photos.mycapture.com/PITT/1UserPhotos/711089E.jpg

4.http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3320518158_a1a24c8269_m.jpg

5.http://web.mit.edu/mna/Public/ganson4.jpg

   I haven’t had time to go on Youtube and really search it. I will look for some videos and post them in a comment to this post.

        -Angelena

Question 2 was ‘Have you considered what materials you are going to use for this project?’

           I have not really considered what materials I am going to use. I know I am going to use wood, a can of soda, marbles/balls, a motor, domino’s and string. I am considering using a hammer ( in the machine). When I come up with more I will make another post.

                 -Angelena 

Question 3 was ‘Are there any world records for these types of contraptions? If so, what are they?’

      I couldn’t find any world records but I know there’s one. I found some kids trying to break the record. They are speaking another language but you can still watch the machine. Although sometimes it breaks it was just a practice run for them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3jDu6gVosA

          -Angelena

Question 4 was ‘What skills do we need to think about if we are hoping to make a contraption such as this?”

     The skills that I would need to have to make this are how to use tools and power tools because I need to have the skills to actually build the machine. Math skills to build the blue print and measurements. Possibly some science skills for making the motor work.
      Since I have not really thought about what I want to include in my project I don’t know if I will need more skills. I will write another post if I need to add anything.

                     -Angelena

Question 5 was “Have you given any thought to what task or tasks you want this contraption to perform?”

      Yes I have given thought to what task I want my contraption to do.  Int he end I want it to open a can of soda. I am still trying to figure out how I am going to do that though. I need to figure out what would be heavy enough to pop open the top.
      If you meant, what do I want it to do leading up to opening the can of soda, I have not really given it that much thought. I want to involve a motor, domino’s and marbles. Soon I am going to start brainstorming a blue print for it.

                    -Angelena